British pilots flew airstrikes against IS in Syria

[Jefferson23]

British military pilots carried out airstrikes in Syria while embedded with allied forces fighting the Islamic State group, the UK government has confirmed, despite parliamentary opposition to military involvement in the civil war-stricken country.

Responding to a freedom of information request, the Ministry of Defence said that Royal Air Force pilots embedded with US and Canadian forces “operating in Syrian airspace” had flown “strike missions” against IS targets.

British forces have been involved in the air campaign against IS in Iraq since last September but they have not formally participated in the wider coalition campaign targeting territory held by the group and other Islamist factions in Syria.

The British parliament voted against military action in Syria in 2013, and Michael Fallon, the British defence secretary, had earlier indicated that any expansion of the UK’s air campaign to Syria would be put before parliament.

Critics on Friday accused David Cameron, the British prime minister, of displaying contempt for democracy and of keeping the public in the dark about the activities of the country’s armed forces.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-pilots-flew-airstrikes-against-syria-1828462799#sthash.75e8JyE6.dpuf

[KoKo]

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