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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. |
Meanwhile, the father of two more Britons thought to be in Syria said he believes they are now on a "hit list". | |
Ahmed Muthana, father of Nasser, 20, and Aseel Muthana, 17, from Cardiff, says he believes the pair could be killed in a similar drone strike because the UK government is "targeting everyone now". | |
Earlier, Mr Fallon would not be drawn on whether the UK had a "hit list". | |
'Barbaric attacks' | 'Barbaric attacks' |
But he told the BBC: "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." | |
A debate over the UK's use of drones started after MPs were told on Monday that Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, had been killed in a precision strike in Raqqa by a remotely piloted aircraft. | |
Ruhul Amin, 26, from Aberdeen, was also killed in the attack on 21 August. | |
The RAF strike was the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. | The RAF strike was the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. |
Mr Fallon added that there had been "no other way" of stopping Khan, whom Prime Minister David Cameron 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 | |
MPs rejected military action in Syria two years ago, but Mr Cameron said the attorney general had agreed there was a "clear legal basis" for the RAF strike. | |
He said it had been approved at a meeting of "the most senior members" of the National Security Council and authorised by Mr Fallon. | He said it 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 |
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. |
But acting Labour leader Harriet Harman and the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson have called for the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to investigate. | But acting Labour leader Harriet Harman and the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson have called 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 reveal details of the intelligence that prompted the strike. | |
Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham said it was "unacceptable" for ministers to say that they will not publish any further information. | |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
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 |
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. | |
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. | |
In 2013, MPs 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. | In 2013, MPs 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. |
Over the last four years more than 200,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. |