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Islamic State conflict: Questions raised over drone strike Islamic State conflict: UK 'would repeat Syria drone strike'
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron is facing questions over the decision to carry out a drone strike in Syria which killed two British Islamic State jihadists. The UK would launch more secret drone strikes in Syria if there was a threat to "the streets of Britain", Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said.
Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, and Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen, died last month in Raqqa in the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. He said the RAF strike which killed two British Islamic State jihadists was a "perfectly legal act of self defence".
The PM said the "act of self defence" was lawful, despite MPs previously ruling out UK military action in Syria. He said one of the men had been planning a series of attacks in the UK.
Labour is calling for ministers to publish the legal basis for the attack. MPs rejected UK military action in Syria two years ago - and ministers are now facing questions over the attack and calls to publish the legal advice.
Khan was killed in a precision strike on 21 August by a remotely piloted aircraft, "after meticulous planning", while travelling in a vehicle, MPs were told on Monday. Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, was killed in the precision strike in Raqqa on 21 August by a remotely-piloted aircraft "after meticulous planning", David Cameron told MPs on Monday.
Another British national, Junaid Hussain, 21 and from Birmingham, was killed in a separate air strike by US forces in Raqqa on 24 August. The strike was the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen.
In a Commons statement Mr Cameron said both Khan and Hussain had been involved in actively recruiting IS "sympathisers" and were plotting to attack "high-profile public commemorations" taking place in the UK this summer. 'Disrupt attacks'
Mr Cameron said the attorney general had been consulted and agreed there was a "clear legal basis" for the strike on Khan. Ruhul Amin, 26, was also killed and later identified as a British national from Aberdeen.
But questions have been raised over the decision, with acting Labour leader Harriet Harman urging the government to publish the legal advice. Mr Fallon said there was "no other way" of stopping Khan, who the prime minister said was planning "barbaric" attacks on "high-profile public commemorations" in Britain.
"[IS] have a list of events they want to attack here on our streets and we have to work extremely hard to prevent those attacks, to find out about them, and to disrupt them," he told BBC Breakfast.
In his Commons statement, Mr Cameron said the attorney general had been consulted and agreed there was a "clear legal basis" for the strike on Khan.
But questions have been raised over the decision, with acting Labour leader Harriet Harman among those urging the government to publish the legal advice.
She called for "independent scrutiny" of the attack, asking: "Why didn't the attorney general authorise this specific action rather than merely 'confirming there was a legal basis for it'?"She called for "independent scrutiny" of the attack, asking: "Why didn't the attorney general authorise this specific action rather than merely 'confirming there was a legal basis for it'?"
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said it was possible the decision taken by the government could be "legally reviewed or challenged".Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said it was possible the decision taken by the government could be "legally reviewed or challenged".
Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn said "urgent consideration needs to be given to the appropriate process by which attacks such as this one are sanctioned, on what evidence and on what basis of law".Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn said "urgent consideration needs to be given to the appropriate process by which attacks such as this one are sanctioned, on what evidence and on what basis of law".
David Davis, former shadow home secretary, said he believed the strike was justified but warned of "the possibility that this translates or becomes routinised into something like the Americans' position".David Davis, former shadow home secretary, said he believed the strike was justified but warned of "the possibility that this translates or becomes routinised into something like the Americans' position".
And human rights group Reprieve described the air strike as "deeply worrying".And human rights group Reprieve described the air strike as "deeply worrying".
'See the truth' 'Murder on our streets'
A family friend of Khan's from Cardiff, Mohamed Islam, called for an investigation "to see the truth of this incident".A family friend of Khan's from Cardiff, Mohamed Islam, called for an investigation "to see the truth of this incident".
He said it was "very complicated, very sad and very hard" for Khan's family.He said it was "very complicated, very sad and very hard" for Khan's family.
Two years ago MPs rejected possible UK military action in Syria, but last September approved British participation in air strikes against IS targets in Iraq only.Two years ago MPs rejected possible UK military action in Syria, but last September approved British participation in air strikes against IS targets in Iraq only.
However, officials said the UK would "act immediately [in Syria] and explain to Parliament afterwards" if there was "a critical British national interest at stake".However, officials said the UK would "act immediately [in Syria] and explain to Parliament afterwards" if there was "a critical British national interest at stake".
The strike on Khan was "the first time in modern times that a British asset has been used to conduct a strike in a country where we're not involved in a war", the PM confirmed. The strike on Khan was "the first time in modern times that a British asset has been used to conduct a strike in a country where we're not involved in a war", the prime minister confirmed.
He said the strike had been approved at a meeting of "the most senior members" of the National Security Council, and authorised by Defence Secretary Michael 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.
"There was a terrorist directing murder on our streets and no other means to stop him. This government does not for one moment take these decisions lightly," Mr Cameron said."There was a terrorist directing murder on our streets and no other means to stop him. This government does not for one moment take these decisions lightly," Mr Cameron said.
"But I am not prepared to stand here in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on our streets and have to explain to the House why I did not take the chance to prevent it when I could have done.""But I am not prepared to stand here in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on our streets and have to explain to the House why I did not take the chance to prevent it when I could have done."