The Government’s strategy of focusing on IS strongholds in Iraq and Syria was “not sufficient” and could see the terror group reappearing in other parts of the world, they said.
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“For example, if Daesh is defeated in the Middle East but then grows strong in Africa, the current strategy will require major revision”.
“Assuming Daesh is squeezed out of both countries, we have to focus too on what happens next – both in other countries to which Daesh may migrate and in Syria especially where there is no shortage of other Islamist groups, just as risky, which are planning to take control”.
But it warned that progress was “much less certain” in Syria, where a far lower tally of 65 strikes have been made, only a minority of which “appear to be in support of opposition forces on the ground”.
It also led to discussion about “changing the way we intervene” in foreign conflicts.
“We assessed today the Iraqis will have, in early October, all the forces marshaled, trained, fielded and equipped that are necessary for operations in Mosul”, Dunford said. If it does, the current military strategy will not be adequate.
The UK and coalition’s strategy to counter Daesh is predominately focused on…
The report detailed 550 airstrikes since December 2015 by British forces in Iraq, where it said coalition military effort was “bearing fruit”.
In recent months, the Iraqi army – backed by US -led coalition airstrikes and local allies on the ground – has since managed to retake much territory.
It said that a lack of data from the MoD on United Kingdom air strikes over Syria – of which only 65 have been carried out since the anti-IS operation in Iraq was expanded last December – makes it hard to check if the strikes are supporting “credible moderate ground forces”, a key justification for the campaign.
It also warned of Daesh migrating to Africa or Asia or forming affiliates.
Elsewhere in the report, the committee criticizes the British government for failing to disclose data about its campaign of airstrikes in Syria.
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Defence Committee chair person Dr Julian Lewis: “Whilst substantial progress in eliminating ISIS is clearly being achieved in Iraq, the situation in Syria is far more complex. Assuming Daesh is squeezed out of both countries, we have to focus too on what happens next-both in other countries to which Daesh may migrate, and in Syria especially where there is no shortage of other Islamist groups, just as risky, which are planning to take control”, Dr Julian Lewis, chair of the committee, said in conclusion.
