Four RAF Tornado jets, which carry a range of munitions including Paveway IV guided bombs and precision-guided Brimstone missiles, took off from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus but defence officials refused to be drawn on the targets of their mission.
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I will do so because I do not think the case has been adequately made that extending British air strikes will either defeat ISIL or make us safer here at home.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has also confirmed six Typhoons and two Tornados have been sent to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to help with operations.
Prime Minister David Cameron, fresh from winning the House of Commons vote on extending airstrikes against Islamic State to Syria, will travel to Bulgaria for talks on Britain’s future in the European Union as Corbyn braces for the results of a special election taking place Thursday in Oldham, northern England.
Four jets were spotted leaving in pairs from the British Base moments after UK MPs voted by 397 votes to 233 for the UK military action against IS in Syria after a lengthy debate in Commons on Wednesday.
As more countries join long-term efforts to combat the militant group following the November 13 terror attacks in Paris, experts warn that the risk of a collision or an air incident, especially with noncoalition member Russian Federation, presents a big challenge in Syria. The UK Parliament, of which Scotland is a member, has also now come to its decision after a day of thorough debate, and some excellent and inspiring contributions, and that decision should be respected by everyone who took part in it. All we have to do now is wait for its consequences.
Mr Alnasser said he thought air strikes “are going to backfire” because whatever rebels are left will see the group that calls itself ISIS as “their only hope for fighting against the regime” and that it would “encourage more Syrians to join”.
“The President of the Republic salutes the first British air operations over Syria this morning after the yesterday’s vote obtained by a large majority in parliament”.
The more significant impact is likely to be political, signaling the reemergence of a vital USA ally that has seemed to retreat from global affairs in recent years following misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. Corbyn declined to sing the national anthem at a commemoration of the Battle of Britain.
“It won’t change the course of war decisively initially, but who can tell what could happen over the long term if it enables a particularly important target to be struck?” As he has pointed out, the attackers in Paris were individuals who had been sent from Syria. What is more, almost 3000 coalition air strikes have already been aimed at Syria and the case for what British air strikes will add is weak.
A Labour MP has received a potential death threat on Twitter after backing British airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria.
The resolution passed by Britain’s Parliament specifically rules out ground troops.
A military source said: “We are going after the head of the snake but it’s also about going after its wallet”.
Labour MPs, granted a free vote following an acrimonious party split over bombing raids, were sharply divided as 66 MPs backed the Government, while 152 filed through the No lobby with Mr Corbyn.
A senior Labour MP says Jeremy Corbyn’s “incompetent” leadership means the party is failing to “take the fight” to the Tories.
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Britain has been participating in US-led coalition attacks against ISIL positions in Iraq so far.
