“Later this week, I will set out in parliament our comprehensive strategy for tackling ISIL”, he added during a joint press conference with French President Francois Hollande.
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Hollande said that France planned to intensify its air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria with its sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, getting into position on Monday for strikes.
“As the murders on the streets of Paris reminded us so starkly, ISIL (another term for Islamic State) is not some remote problem thousands of miles away – it is a direct threat to our security at home and overseas”, Cameron said. The UK has already been launching airstrikes on Iraq, but has thus far held off on any attacks on the country where ISIS has the most control.
Cameron lost a crucial vote on military action in Syria in 2013 and wants to make sure that does not happen again. The British prime minister, along with the U.K.’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, has been pushing to secure parliamentary support for a motion to extend its air campaign against ISIS to Syria.
Vote by the end of the week?
However, it is believed that unless Jeremy Corbyn, who is personally opposed to military action, is prepared to see a major rebellion on the Labour benches, then he will have to concede a free vote among his MPs.
The United Nations 15 member Security Council on Friday unanimously passed a resolution pledging to “redouble” action against IS, and calling on UN members to take “all necessary measures” against a group it described as “a global and unprecedented threat to worldwide peace and security”. Of course there will be a decision for parliament to make.
She told the Today programme: “My understanding is he is not a pacifist and that means that it is conceivable”.
A Times/YouGov opinion poll published last week found that 58 percent of people would approve of Britain joining airstrikes in Syria, compared to 22 percent against. Cameron will also give details of an additional 12 billion pounds of equipment spending as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) to be presented to Parliament.
The money would help fund nine new Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and two new rapid-reaction “strike brigades” of 5,000 soldiers – able to swiftly deploy across long distances.
“We have a highly skilled air force”.
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As the Prime Minster visited Paris to show solidarity in the wake of the deadly terror attacks, he said the atrocities would bring the world together “in defence of our values”.
