Tri-Service

Cameron: "Boots On Ground Need To Be Syrian Or Iraqi"

David Cameron says countries like Syria and Iraq need to provide the "boots on the ground" in the fight against Islamic State.

The Prime Minister indicated that he wants to expand the UK role in the battle against extremists to include airstrikes in the two countries, but said they themselves should provide the "boots on the ground". Mr Cameron said:

"Of course if we are going to succeed in defeating Isil either in Iraq or Syria there will need to be boots on the ground. But they should be Iraqi boots, Syrian boots.

"What we need is an Iraq that is capable of governing its own country, and Iraqi government that is capable of governing its own country.

"The same goes in Syria. It is more complicated because the government of Syria, in the form of Bashar Assad, is the chief recruiting sergeant for Isil because of his butchery of his own people."

It emerged last week that British pilots embedded with US forces have carried out bombing raids in Syria - despite the Commons having voted against such action.

After releasing the details under freedom of information rules, the Ministry of Defence said no pilots were currently engaged in the operations.

Mr Cameron - who has urged media to use the term Isil or Daesh rather than IS - said shoring up countries that were in danger of becoming "broken" was crucial.

He conceded that extremists now controlled what was "effectively a state taking in parts of Iraq and Syria".

Mr Cameron said he agreed with UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon that "missiles may kill terrorists but good governance kills terrorism".

Home Secretary Theresa May, meanwhile, declined to rule out ground forces, while stressing that the "debate" was over extending airstrikes and parliamentary approval would be needed for any such move.