David Cameron has appealed to MPs to back RAF air strikes against Islamic State in its Syrian heartlands to “keep the British people safe” from the threat of terrorist attack.
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The 397-223 vote in the House of Commons means Royal Air Force fighter jets – already operating against IS in Iraq from a base in Cyprus – could be flying over Syria within hours.
But Mr Hammond said air strikes would have the immediate effect of “degrading Isil’s ability to plan and execute external attacks, so just starting those air strikes – even before we get anywhere near a ground assault on Raqqa – will improve the safety of Britain, of France, of Europe and of British and French people and others, wherever they are in the world”.
Many British voters are wary of being dragged into another war in the Middle East. Some view Western intervention in Iraq and Libya as a failure that sowed chaos across the region and the news of the vote was met by howls of disgust by dozens of anti-war protesters demonstrating outside parliament. “I believe it is the wrong choice”.
Corbyn had hoped media reports that Cameron told Conservative lawmakers at a meeting late on Tuesday not to vote with the Labour leader “and a bunch of terrorist sympathisers” would harden opposition to the action.
Mr Corbyn had been forced to give his MPs a free vote amid splits within his frontbench team and the threat of resignations.
After more than 10 hours of back and forth, the motion was passed by a majority of 174.
A cross-party bid to block United Kingdom airstrikes in Syria was also rejected by 390 votes to 211 – a majority of 179.
“No one has the right to make such a slander as to suggest that Turkey buys Daesh’s oil”, Erdogan said. “There’s honor in voting for, there’s honor in voting against”, Cameron said, stopping short of saying he was sorry.
On Wednesday, Russia’s deputy defense minister, Anatoly Antonov, accused Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family of benefiting from illegal oil trade with Islamic State militants.
MPs have overwhelmingly backed extending military action in Syria paving the way for bombing raids against Islamic State targets.
Erdogan called the claim “slander” and said Turkey would not “buy oil from a terror organization”.
Cameron urged MPs not to allow Iraq to dictate their decision, saying: “This is not 2003”. Many lawmakers came to regret supporting the war and ensuing chaos, and blamed then-Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair for lacking a plan for post-war reconstruction.
Labour MP John Mann intervened on Corbyn as the Labour leader spoke to demand threats against pro-strike MPs stop.
Hollande is seeking to increase global cooperation and coordination on military actions against ISIS and said France will “intensify” its attacks in Syria.
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“The risks of inaction are greater than the risks of what I propose”, he said.
