Defence Secretary Rejects Calls To Fly Back British Jihadists

Gavin Williamson said he does not believe it is right for the military to be used to fly extremists back to the UK (Picture: MOD)

The Defence Secretary has reportedly said RAF jets will "never" fly captured extremists back from Iraq and Syria to the UK.

Gavin Williamson was speaking to reporters in the Middle East where he announced plans for a new British training base in Oman.

According to today's Daily Mail he said:

" Do I want to see our Royal Air Force flying these people back to our country? Never.

"I don’t want to see the RAF flying people who tried to do harm and hurt to British people.

 "Do I think it is right to use the Armed Forces to bring these types of people back? No."

Mr Williamson has been watching joint Omani-British military exercises in the desert ahead of the opening of the base in March.

The Defence Secretary's comments come after officials looked at the possibility of extraditing a British citizen suspected of fighting for so-called Islamic State from an Iraqi prison last year. The idea was rejected by ministers.

Since then the Government has come under pressure from the US and Kurdish leaders in Syria to take responsibility for its own citizens.

Last month commander of US special operations Major General Patrick Roberson called on Britain to take back two suspected members of the so-called IS ‘Beatles’ being held in Syria.

El Shafee ElSheikh and Alexanda Kotey are accused of belonging to a jihadi cell suspected of many beheadings.

They are being held in Kurdish custody in Syria.