UK reveals its plan for Syria airstrikes

LONDON (AVRUPA TIMES)

The British government outlined Tuesday its proposal for launching airstrikes against Daesh in Syria as lawmakers prepare to vote on the following issue.

A motion approved by Cabinet ministers proposes "military action, specifically airstrikes, exclusively against ISIL in Syria", using another acronym for the group.

It explicitly rules out U.K. ground troops becoming involved in the conflict and notes military action is "only one component of a broader strategy to bring peace and stability to Syria".

The motion, published on parliament’s website, says that there is a "clear legal basis" for the action following the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2249.

Prime Minister David Cameron will lead Wednesday’s debate in the House of Commons ahead of a late-night vote.

"I will be making the arguments and I hope as many Members of Parliament -- across all parties -- will support me as possible," Cameron said in a statement Tuesday.

"We had a meeting of the Cabinet this morning and have agreed the motion that will be put in front of the House of Commons. That motion talks about, yes, the necessity of taking military action against ISIL in Syria as well as Iraq, but it is part of a broader strategy.

"It's about politics and diplomacy and humanitarian aid, all of which we need to bring to bear to bring peace to Syria but to make sure we protect our national interest of fighting against this appalling terrorist organization."

Britain’s governing Conservative Party has a slim majority of 12 in the House of Commons and a small number of Conservative lawmakers are expected to oppose the plan.

However, at least 50 lawmakers from the opposition Labour Party and the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party are also expected to support the motion, delivering Cameron a comfortable majority, the BBC reported.