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| Islamic State conflict: UK 'would repeat Syria drone strike' | Islamic State conflict: UK 'would repeat Syria drone strike' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK would not hesitate to launch more secret drone strikes in Syria to thwart potential terror plots, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said. | The UK would not hesitate to launch more secret drone strikes in Syria to thwart potential terror plots, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said. |
| He said the RAF strike that killed two British Islamic State jihadists was a "perfectly legal act of self defence". | He said the RAF strike that killed two British Islamic State jihadists was a "perfectly legal act of self defence". |
| There are "other terrorists" involved in "other plots that may come to fruition" in weeks or months, he said. | There are "other terrorists" involved in "other plots that may come to fruition" in weeks or months, he said. |
| The father of two more Britons thought to be fighting in Syria has said he believes they are now on a "hit list". | |
| A debate over the UK's use of drones has started after Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, was killed in a precision strike in Raqqa on 21 August by a remotely piloted aircraft. | |
| Ruhul Amin, 26, from Aberdeen, was also killed. | |
| Another British fighter, Junaid Hussain, was killed by a US drone strike on 24 August and the BBC has seen evidence that suggests he was involved in an active plot against targets in the UK. | |
| 'Barbaric attacks' | 'Barbaric attacks' |
| Hussain is said to have been involved in encrypted phone conversations with another British man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - who was allegedly at an advanced stage in planning an attack in the UK. | |
| It is understood the plot was disrupted before Hussain was killed. | |
| The RAF strike was the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. | |
| Mr Fallon said there had been "no other way" of stopping Khan, whom the prime minister accused of planning "barbaric" attacks on "high-profile public commemorations" in Britain. | Mr Fallon said there had been "no other way" of stopping Khan, whom the prime minister accused of planning "barbaric" attacks on "high-profile public commemorations" in Britain. |
| "We wouldn't hesitate to take similar action again," Mr Fallon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "We wouldn't hesitate to take similar action again," Mr Fallon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Tracking Britain's jihadists | Tracking Britain's jihadists |
| The defence secretary would not be drawn on whether the UK had a "hit list", but said: "There are a large number of individuals - not all British - out there in Syria at the moment who are actively involved in planning armed attacks here in Britain." | The defence secretary would not be drawn on whether the UK had a "hit list", but said: "There are a large number of individuals - not all British - out there in Syria at the moment who are actively involved in planning armed attacks here in Britain." |
| MPs rejected military action in Syria two years ago, but Mr Cameron said the attorney general was consulted over the strike and had agreed there was a "clear legal basis" for it. | |
| He said the strike had been approved at a meeting of "the most senior members" of the National Security Council and authorised by Mr Fallon. | He said the strike had been approved at a meeting of "the most senior members" of the National Security Council and authorised by Mr Fallon. |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said the decision had been taken "some months ago". | The prime minister's official spokesman said the decision had been taken "some months ago". |
| Labour questions | Labour questions |
| But questions have been raised over the move, with acting Labour leader Harriet Harman and the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson calling for the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to investigate. | But questions have been raised over the move, with acting Labour leader Harriet Harman and the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson calling for the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to investigate. |
| The ISC can summon intelligence chiefs to give evidence, but a new committee has not yet been appointed following the general election. | The ISC can summon intelligence chiefs to give evidence, but a new committee has not yet been appointed following the general election. |
| There have also been calls for the government to make public more details of the intelligence that prompted the strike. | There have also been calls for the government to make public more details of the intelligence that prompted the strike. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that was likely to have included material intercepted by the UK's listening station GCHQ - and its US counterpart, the NSA - as well as information from human informants on the ground in Syria. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that was likely to have included material intercepted by the UK's listening station GCHQ - and its US counterpart, the NSA - as well as information from human informants on the ground in Syria. |
| The government has justified its decision to launch the strike under Article 51 of the United Nations charter, which says member states have an "inherent right of self-defence" if an armed attack is occurring or is believed to be imminent. | The government has justified its decision to launch the strike under Article 51 of the United Nations charter, which says member states have an "inherent right of self-defence" if an armed attack is occurring or is believed to be imminent. |
| Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said it was possible the decision could be "legally reviewed or challenged". | Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said it was possible the decision could be "legally reviewed or challenged". |
| But Liberal Democrat peer Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of anti-terrorism legislation, said the argument the attack might not have been lawful was "entirely artificial". | But Liberal Democrat peer Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of anti-terrorism legislation, said the argument the attack might not have been lawful was "entirely artificial". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent |
| Drone strikes are highly controversial. | Drone strikes are highly controversial. |
| Opponents of the policy say they are illegal, immoral and ultimately ineffectual. | Opponents of the policy say they are illegal, immoral and ultimately ineffectual. |
| They point to evidence that US-operated drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen have killed hundreds of innocent civilians and generated so much anti-Western hatred in those countries that they end up recruiting more violent jihadists. | They point to evidence that US-operated drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen have killed hundreds of innocent civilians and generated so much anti-Western hatred in those countries that they end up recruiting more violent jihadists. |
| Many people also find something repellent about drone operators sitting safely in comfort in a base thousands of miles away from their unsuspecting target. | Many people also find something repellent about drone operators sitting safely in comfort in a base thousands of miles away from their unsuspecting target. |
| But proponents argue that drone strikes have been highly effective in disrupting terrorist operations, keeping their leaders constantly on the move and too busy to plan attacks. | But proponents argue that drone strikes have been highly effective in disrupting terrorist operations, keeping their leaders constantly on the move and too busy to plan attacks. |
| Some officials even maintain that the constant targeting of jihadist operators in Pakistan's tribal territories with drone strikes has significantly contributed to preventing a repetition of the 7/7 London bombings. | Some officials even maintain that the constant targeting of jihadist operators in Pakistan's tribal territories with drone strikes has significantly contributed to preventing a repetition of the 7/7 London bombings. |
| Watch tour of RAF Reaper's drones base | Watch tour of RAF Reaper's drones base |
| Mohammed Islam, a family friend of Khan's, called for an investigation, alleging there had been a "cover up", while Muslim leaders in Cardiff called for proof that Khan had been plotting a terror attack on the UK. | Mohammed Islam, a family friend of Khan's, called for an investigation, alleging there had been a "cover up", while Muslim leaders in Cardiff called for proof that Khan had been plotting a terror attack on the UK. |
| Khan is understood to have travelled to Syria with Nasser Muthana, also from Cardiff, and was seen alongside him in an IS propaganda video in June. | |
| Ahmed Muthana, the father of Nasser - and his brother Aseel, who is also understood to be in Syria - said he believed the UK government was "targeting everyone now", and accused Mr Cameron of "making it up" when he claimed to have proof of the threat men like his sons posed to the UK. | |
| Iraq-only strikes | |
| MPs in 2013 rejected UK military action against President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, but last September approved British participation in air strikes against IS targets in Iraq only. | MPs in 2013 rejected UK military action against President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, but last September approved British participation in air strikes against IS targets in Iraq only. |
| But officials said the UK would "act immediately and explain to Parliament afterwards" if there was "a critical British national interest at stake". | But officials said the UK would "act immediately and explain to Parliament afterwards" if there was "a critical British national interest at stake". |
| Mr Fallon said a fresh Commons vote would be needed for pre-planned military action against IS in Syria. | Mr Fallon said a fresh Commons vote would be needed for pre-planned military action against IS in Syria. |