British armed forces are now conducting airstrikes in Iraq and there are still 450 troops in Afghanistan as a remainder from the brutal U.S.-led invasion and war there for over a decade.
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And today two more Tornados and six Typhoons took off from their bases in the United Kingdom heading for RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus where the British strike force attacking IS – also referred to as Isil, Isis or Daesh – is based.
“The additional 8 aircraft being sent to [RAF] Akrotiri [in Cyprus] are now in the air and on their way to Akrotiri”.
“They were using Paveway munitions in an area of oil fields where there was simply oil infrastructure in eastern Syria, a long way from Raqqa itself, down near Iraq”.
He added: “This strikes a very real blow at the oil and the revenue on which the Daesh terrorists depend”.
Asked whether Britain was safer this morning, he told Sky News: “Yes”.
He told the BBC: “They have been able to attack these terrorists on one side of the border”.
“We were already in this fight, we have already seen our own citizens, holidaymakers slaughtered on a beach in Tunisia, one other British citizen killed in the attacks in Paris”.
“We have come to the aid of France, who requested us to help with our RAF planes, we have responded to the call from the United Nations on all members of the United Nations to do something to suppress this terrorism and eradicate the safe haven that Daesh has. Voting in favour of military action is not a decision that I took lightly and after deliberation and consideration I am of the view that it is the only right course of action to protect our streets here in Britain”.
“Isil can only be defeated in Syria with an effective and comprehensive plan”.
Rainham and Dagenham MP Mr Cruddas voted against the air strikes and said he was concerned they could further radicalise “homegrown jihadists”.
“Air strikes will be an essential tool in our fight against Isil – but it will be part of a broader strategy for Syria, which includes finding a political solution to the turmoil; a continuation of our extensive humanitarian efforts; and a clear commitment to post-conflict reconstruction”.
He continued that “only a negotiated political and diplomatic endeavor to bring about an end to the civil war in Syria will bring some hope to the millions who have lost their homes, who are refugees, and who are camped out in various points all across Europe, dreaming of a day when they can go home”.
“We are already a target and we have got to do something about this now”.
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During his first appearance in Parliament, Mr Cameron said: “We believe there are around 70,000 Syrian opposition fighters – principally the Free Syrian Army – who do not belong to extremist groups, and with whom we can co-ordinate attacks on Isil”.
