Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Sunday, Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said there is a growing sentiment in Parliament that Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) must be targeted in Syria as well as Iraq.
“We have made a very clear commitment that before we get involved in airstrikes in Syria – other than very targeted cases where we are dealing with direct threats to the UK – yes, we would come back to Parliament and get the authorization,” he told the BBC, after addressing delegates gathered in the main hall.
“And I think there is a sense that there is a beginning of consensus now in Parliament that this has to be dealt with, that we have to take the fight with ISIS to Raqqa in Syria, rather than just attacking them in Iraq.”