Tri-Service

RAF Involvement In Syria "Would Make A Difference"

The former head of the Armed Forces says President Bashar Assad must be left in place while IS is targeted in Syria.

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, who stepped down as Chief of the Defence Staff in 2013, said Iraq could be brought into "reasonably competent shape quite quickly" through extra resources.

But the peer said it was not "plausible" to try to oust Mr Assad and fight IS at the same time.

"Any general will tell you, you need unity of purpose and clear aims in war and that muddies those aims," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Asked if Mr Cameron was coming round to that view, he replied: "From what I'm reading and hearing, he is beginning to."

He added: "As much as we all have an awful dislike, distaste, for Assad, I would like to see him kept with his government in place at least for a while."

The peer said there should "definitely" be a deal with the Russians over Syria.

"Russia is, whether we like it or not, now part of this and, indeed, a leading part along with the very sad events in France.

"You could say it was their intervention that has catalysed this change of thinking," he said.

Lord Richards insisted RAF involvement "would make a difference" tactically.

"The RAF's contribution, which is often pooh-poohed, what can eight planes do, is ill informed. Those eight aircraft, although they are old, are actually very capable."