Cameron wants UK to join Syria strikes, offers France Cyprus airbase

British Prime Minister David Cameron said in Paris on Monday that he was convinced the UK should carry out military air strikes alongside France and other partners in Syria in an effort to defeat Islamic State.

Speaking at a joint news conference French President Francois Hollande, Cameron also said he had offered France use of a British airbase in Cyprus as well as additional assistance with air-to-air refueling.

"Later this week I will set out in parliament our comprehensive strategy for tackling ISIL (Islamic State)," Cameron said.

"I firmly support the action that President Hollande has taken to strike ISIL in Syria and it is my firm conviction that Britain should do so too," he said, adding that that was a decision for parliament to take.

The UK prime minister is wagering that the attacks that killed 130 people in attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 will tip parliament in favour of launching strikes.

Cameron is eager to avoid a repeat of 2013, when he lost a crunch parliamentary vote on air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

He also said that he would step up efforts to share intelligence with France and other European partners, adding that he planned to present a comprehensive strategy to defeat Islamic State to parliament later this week.

Hollande said that France planned to intensify its air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria with its sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle getting into position on Monday for strikes.

 

 

REUTERS