The defence secretary has rejected as “simply wrong” suggestions that British involvement in airstrikes against Islamic State strongholds in Syria has made the UK more vulnerable to domestic terror attacks.
Michael Fallon said the vote in parliament to extend RAF air strikes into that part of Isis territory was an “important moment” in the international campaign against the extremists. Speaking during a visit to the Pentagon he hailed Britain’s relationship with the US, pledging to build on the strong partnership, and dismissed claims military involvement in Syria exacerbated homegrown terror plots.
Fallon said: “The United States remains our closest strategic partner and we will work together to promote global stability, to protect our shared interests and to deliver prosperity for our people.”
During the joint press conference with US secretary of defence, Ash Carter, Fallon addressed concerns that bombing Syria would increase the threat from Isis – also know as Isil or Daesh – to the UK. He said: “There will be plots against both our countries as we take the fight to Isil-Daesh, just as there have been attacks like those in San Bernardino.
“But we must not allow the idea to take hold that standing up to this terrorism makes our homeland security any worse. That is a counsel of despair and simply wrong. So we must defend our values as much as our streets and always remember that these people don’t hate us because of what we do, but because of who we are.”
Fallon said the UK had, since the parliamentary vote, more than doubled the number of missions flown by the RAF to target Isis “in its heartland”. He reiterated that Britain would not be sending ground troops into Syria or back into Iraq, explaining that “home-grown forces” – which could have the support of locals – would be needed to provide security in areas liberated from Isis.
