Cameron is expected to call a vote on airstrikes later this week, having previously said he would not take the gamble until he was guaranteed majority support among MPs.
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But a senior source confirmed that a free vote would be offered, as the shadow cabinet gathered in Westminster to discuss an issue which has exposed deep rifts at the heart of the party.
Labour is divided on whether to support Mr Cameron’s call for air strikes, with about half of the shadow cabinet believed to back intervention.
But it is thought that Mr Corbyn may appeal for the Prime Minister to delay a vote while the concerns of Labour MPs are dealt with.
Andrew Marr asked Corbyn whether his heart was set against bombing Syria, and Corbyn replied “there is nothing wrong with my heart except for wanting a peaceful world”.
Watson, the deputy leader, has been trying to broker a deal with Corbyn to allow a free vote, as it is possible that key shadow cabinet ministers would have to resign if the leader insists they vote against airstrikes. However, that is a decision for Jeremy to make.
Most Labour lawmakers did not support Corbyn’s bid for the leadership but he was backed by an overwhelming majority of grassroots party members.
Mr Cameron spelled out his rationale for more attacks in a speech and report to parliament on Thursday, telling lawmakers that bombing is needed alongside political attempts to form a new government in Syria.
Corbyn refused to accept that it had been a “terrible” week for the Labour party, despite the split over Syria, remarks from Ken Livingstone that Tony Blair was to blame for the 7/7 London bombings, and John McDonnell quoting Mao Zedong from the dispatch box.
But he added: “It’s the leader who decides”.
“It’s a matter for the leader what the whipping will be, but we are a party of government and a party of government has to have a position on matters of peace and war”, she said. “I will make up my mind in due course”, he told the BBC.
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said that Mr Cameron’s refusal to allow a two-day debate showed his case for war was “falling apart”.
“However, I think the party and increasingly the public would be disappointed if we didn’t oppose these air strikes to the limits of our ability”.
The Labour Party leader remained defiant throughout the interview.
“My own view is I don’t think this very very important issue should be a situation that forces resignations on people”.
However Mr Corbyn’s close allies were last night talking up the likelihood that he would face down dissent among the shadow cabinet and demand MPs oppose the war.
“Frankly, I think the threat of mass resignations has been exaggerated but we will have to see”.
Pressed on the nature of a 70,000-strong army of moderate Syrian forces in Syria referred to by Mr Cameron, Mr Fallon said: “We do know who they are and this is an independent joint intelligence committee assessment”.
He also said a unanimously passed UN Security Council resolution calling for “all necessary measures” against the terrorist group did not provide justification for military action.
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Cameron’s previous government suffered a humiliating defeat in 2013 over launching military action against the Assad government and did not push for a vote for the United Kingdom to join in bombing Syria a year ago.
