Tri-Service

Lord Dannatt: Strike On British IS Fighters "May Well Not Be Right"

General Sir Richard Dannatt has called into question the recent drone strike that killed two British IS fighters, with worries over its legality.

The strike against Reyaad Khan was carried out without parliamentary authority on August 21 and was the first occasion in modern times that the UK has used military force in a country where it was not engaged in a war, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons.

Khan was killed along with fellow militant Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen, who was in the same vehicle. No civilians died.

Khan was targeted alongside fellow militant Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen, who was in the same vehicle.

The Prime Minister insisted that the strike was "entirely lawful" and was approved by Attorney General Jeremy Wright.

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Two years ago, MPs voted against British military action in Syria.

The Prime Minister told the Commons on Monday that the 21 August strike was "necessary and proportionate", insisting the pre-emptive strike was an act of self-defence and "entirely lawful".

When asked about the UK airstrike, General Lord Dannatt told Sky News that "by the letter of what parliament has authorised that may well not be right".

He said: "I'm accepting that the British parliament has not authorised action from the air over Syria at the present time.

"For all I know British drones have been operating in the airspace but gathering intelligence - delivering explosive ordnance and attacking issues is another matter.

"And by the letter of what parliament has authorised, that may well not be right."

When it was suggested that drone operators had targeted and taken out British individuals in Syria without the endorsement of the Commons, he said: "Put it like that, then that is wrong."