Michael Fallon: MPs' support sought for strikes against IS in Syria

Updated

The Government remains committed to building parliamentary support for RAF air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria despite Russia's intervention in the conflict, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said.

Following talks in London with US defence secretary Ash Carter, Mr Fallon said Russian strikes in support of President Bashar Assad risked making "a grave situation even worse".

However he made clear that ministers would not be deterred from seeking support for a new Commons vote for British warplanes to join the US and other coalition aircraft in attacking IS - also referred to as Isil - in Syria as well as Iraq.

"We will continue to build the case for military action in north east Syria where Isil is headquartered, where its command and control is. Russian intervention doesn't change that. We will continue to build the case for intervention in the new parliament," he said.

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