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| British Jets Hit ISIS in Syria After Parliament Authorizes Airstrikes | British Jets Hit ISIS in Syria After Parliament Authorizes Airstrikes |
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| LONDON — The British Parliament on Wednesday authorized airstrikes in Syria against the Islamic State, in a vote that became a wider test of British willingness to play an active role in international affairs, and British warplanes made their first attacks hours later. | LONDON — The British Parliament on Wednesday authorized airstrikes in Syria against the Islamic State, in a vote that became a wider test of British willingness to play an active role in international affairs, and British warplanes made their first attacks hours later. |
| Early on Thursday, the Defense Ministry said that four Tornado jets took off from the Akrotiri Royal Air Force Base in Cyprus and returned to base safely after carrying out airstrikes, according to British news reports. The ministry did not provide specific details of the airstrikes. | Early on Thursday, the Defense Ministry said that four Tornado jets took off from the Akrotiri Royal Air Force Base in Cyprus and returned to base safely after carrying out airstrikes, according to British news reports. The ministry did not provide specific details of the airstrikes. |
| The vote, after months of wrangling, hand-wringing and a daylong parliamentary debate, underscored the concerted efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron, whose Conservative Party has a majority in Parliament, to restore Britain’s reputation as a serious global actor. | The vote, after months of wrangling, hand-wringing and a daylong parliamentary debate, underscored the concerted efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron, whose Conservative Party has a majority in Parliament, to restore Britain’s reputation as a serious global actor. |
| “The threat is very real,” Mr. Cameron said of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, on Wednesday, as he opened the debate in the House of Commons. “The question is this: Do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat?” | “The threat is very real,” Mr. Cameron said of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, on Wednesday, as he opened the debate in the House of Commons. “The question is this: Do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat?” |
| In the end, British lawmakers opted to try to do so, voting by 397 to 223 to go along with Mr. Cameron’s plan, despite some forceful speeches against the strikes. | In the end, British lawmakers opted to try to do so, voting by 397 to 223 to go along with Mr. Cameron’s plan, despite some forceful speeches against the strikes. |
| The run-up to the vote also amounted to a low point for Jeremy Corbyn, the new leader of the opposition Labour Party. While Mr. Corbyn opposes British military action over Syria, some of Labour’s senior figures, including the party’s spokesman on foreign affairs, Hilary Benn, supported it, and Mr. Corbyn was forced to allow his lawmakers to vote freely on the issue in an effort to avoid a intraparty clash amid threatened resignations. | The run-up to the vote also amounted to a low point for Jeremy Corbyn, the new leader of the opposition Labour Party. While Mr. Corbyn opposes British military action over Syria, some of Labour’s senior figures, including the party’s spokesman on foreign affairs, Hilary Benn, supported it, and Mr. Corbyn was forced to allow his lawmakers to vote freely on the issue in an effort to avoid a intraparty clash amid threatened resignations. |
| In an impassioned speech that won a rousing reception Wednesday night, Mr. Benn argued that “every state has the right to defend itself” and asked “why would we not uphold the settled will of the United Nations?” | In an impassioned speech that won a rousing reception Wednesday night, Mr. Benn argued that “every state has the right to defend itself” and asked “why would we not uphold the settled will of the United Nations?” |
| His contribution to the debate appeared to have helped Mr. Cameron secure the “clear majority” in the parliamentary vote that he said he was seeking. | His contribution to the debate appeared to have helped Mr. Cameron secure the “clear majority” in the parliamentary vote that he said he was seeking. |
| While there are serious questions about the extent to which British airstrikes would make a difference in the fight against the Islamic State — the military is already conducting strikes against the militants in Iraq — the issue has always been more about alliance solidarity and leadership than about strict military or strategic utility. | While there are serious questions about the extent to which British airstrikes would make a difference in the fight against the Islamic State — the military is already conducting strikes against the militants in Iraq — the issue has always been more about alliance solidarity and leadership than about strict military or strategic utility. |
| “It will not make a big operational difference,” said Malcolm Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute, a research organization specializing in security. | “It will not make a big operational difference,” said Malcolm Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute, a research organization specializing in security. |
| “It is important symbolically, useful operationally, but not transformative,” he said. “A willingness to deploy will allay the concern that the U.K. is not a reliable partner.” | “It is important symbolically, useful operationally, but not transformative,” he said. “A willingness to deploy will allay the concern that the U.K. is not a reliable partner.” |
| In his first term, as head of a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, Mr. Cameron earned a reputation for lack of interest in foreign policy that seemed to contradict Britain’s history, or its status as a nuclear power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. | In his first term, as head of a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, Mr. Cameron earned a reputation for lack of interest in foreign policy that seemed to contradict Britain’s history, or its status as a nuclear power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. |
| After Britain joined France’s military intervention in 2011, with NATO support, to overthrow Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in Libya, resulting in considerable chaos in North Africa, Mr. Cameron appeared to pull back from military action. | After Britain joined France’s military intervention in 2011, with NATO support, to overthrow Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in Libya, resulting in considerable chaos in North Africa, Mr. Cameron appeared to pull back from military action. |
| While France fought Islamic radicals in Mali, bombed the Islamic State in Syria and made a diplomatic push seeking to resolve the Ukraine crisis with Russia, Mr. Cameron lost a parliamentary vote in 2013 seeking to authorize military action against President Bashar al-Assad of Syria for his use of chemical weapons. | While France fought Islamic radicals in Mali, bombed the Islamic State in Syria and made a diplomatic push seeking to resolve the Ukraine crisis with Russia, Mr. Cameron lost a parliamentary vote in 2013 seeking to authorize military action against President Bashar al-Assad of Syria for his use of chemical weapons. |
| And despite hosting the 2014 NATO summit meeting in Wales, where he led pledges to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on the military, Mr. Cameron was reluctant to follow through, citing a need to reduce Britain’s national deficit. The failure to honor the 2 percent commitment caused enormous friction with the Obama administration, and regular American demands — quietly in public but very loudly in private — that Britain keep its word. | And despite hosting the 2014 NATO summit meeting in Wales, where he led pledges to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on the military, Mr. Cameron was reluctant to follow through, citing a need to reduce Britain’s national deficit. The failure to honor the 2 percent commitment caused enormous friction with the Obama administration, and regular American demands — quietly in public but very loudly in private — that Britain keep its word. |
| After winning a surprising but narrow majority in the general election in | |
| May, however, Mr. Cameron moved to restore Britain’s reputation on the global stage and to play a more visible role in foreign policy. | |
| He found the resources to commit to the 2 percent threshold, committed to buying F-35 fighter jets and maritime patrol planes for Britain’s new aircraft carriers, and vowed to renew Britain’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent. He is now seeking to follow through on his promise to expand airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. | He found the resources to commit to the 2 percent threshold, committed to buying F-35 fighter jets and maritime patrol planes for Britain’s new aircraft carriers, and vowed to renew Britain’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent. He is now seeking to follow through on his promise to expand airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. |
| Mr. Cameron has announced an increase in military spending in real terms of 3 percent over the next four years, including for special forces, intelligence gathering and a doubling of Britain’s drone fleet. | Mr. Cameron has announced an increase in military spending in real terms of 3 percent over the next four years, including for special forces, intelligence gathering and a doubling of Britain’s drone fleet. |
| Nevertheless, after the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Britons remain wary about involvement in Syria, and Mr. Cameron has had to spend considerable effort cajoling lawmakers — including in his own party — to support him. | Nevertheless, after the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Britons remain wary about involvement in Syria, and Mr. Cameron has had to spend considerable effort cajoling lawmakers — including in his own party — to support him. |
| “This is not 2003,” Mr. Cameron said while opening the parliamentary debate on Wednesday. “We must not use past mistakes as an excuse for indifference or inaction.” | “This is not 2003,” Mr. Cameron said while opening the parliamentary debate on Wednesday. “We must not use past mistakes as an excuse for indifference or inaction.” |
| Britain’s “reputation as a serious world player was damaged by the defense cuts announced in 2010 and by the parliamentary vote to refuse military force in 2013,” Mr. Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute said. | Britain’s “reputation as a serious world player was damaged by the defense cuts announced in 2010 and by the parliamentary vote to refuse military force in 2013,” Mr. Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute said. |
| For one former minister, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, “symbolism is more important than the effect.” | For one former minister, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, “symbolism is more important than the effect.” |
| “We are already at war, and the Rubicon was crossed a long time ago,” the former minister argued, referring to the air campaign in Iraq and adding that Mr. Cameron “has found it very embarrassing that Britain is not at the top table.” | “We are already at war, and the Rubicon was crossed a long time ago,” the former minister argued, referring to the air campaign in Iraq and adding that Mr. Cameron “has found it very embarrassing that Britain is not at the top table.” |
| Mr. Cameron has argued that British military action in Iraqi airspace alone makes no sense, as the Islamic State does not recognize the Iraq-Syria border and the militants have their headquarters in Syria. | Mr. Cameron has argued that British military action in Iraqi airspace alone makes no sense, as the Islamic State does not recognize the Iraq-Syria border and the militants have their headquarters in Syria. |
| He has also said that further military action was necessary to stem terrorist acts like the ones that struck Paris on Nov. 13, leaving 130 dead, and that it would be an essential component of any diplomatic solution to the Syrian civil war, which has displaced up to half that country’s population. | He has also said that further military action was necessary to stem terrorist acts like the ones that struck Paris on Nov. 13, leaving 130 dead, and that it would be an essential component of any diplomatic solution to the Syrian civil war, which has displaced up to half that country’s population. |
| Mr. Cameron also argued that airstrikes on Islamic State in Syria will not make Britain any more vulnerable. | Mr. Cameron also argued that airstrikes on Islamic State in Syria will not make Britain any more vulnerable. |
| “If there is an attack on the U.K. in the coming weeks or months, there will be those who try to say it’s happened because of our airstrikes,” he said. “I do not believe that to be the case. ISIL have been trying to attack us for the last year.” | “If there is an attack on the U.K. in the coming weeks or months, there will be those who try to say it’s happened because of our airstrikes,” he said. “I do not believe that to be the case. ISIL have been trying to attack us for the last year.” |
| In response, Mr. Corbyn, the opposition leader, said that the government lacked a clear strategy. | In response, Mr. Corbyn, the opposition leader, said that the government lacked a clear strategy. |
| “Whether it’s the lack of a strategy worth the name,” he said, “the absence of credible ground troops, the missing diplomatic plan for a Syrian settlement, the failure to address the impact on the terrorist threat or the refugee crisis and civilian casualties — it’s become increasingly clear that the prime minister’s proposals for military action simply do not stack up.” | “Whether it’s the lack of a strategy worth the name,” he said, “the absence of credible ground troops, the missing diplomatic plan for a Syrian settlement, the failure to address the impact on the terrorist threat or the refugee crisis and civilian casualties — it’s become increasingly clear that the prime minister’s proposals for military action simply do not stack up.” |
| The debate was heated at times on Wednesday. | The debate was heated at times on Wednesday. |
| The internal debate in the Labour Party has also been bitterly divisive. | The internal debate in the Labour Party has also been bitterly divisive. |
| One Labour lawmaker who said he intended to vote for the government motion said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that he had been deluged with emails from Labour supporters opposed to military strikes. | One Labour lawmaker who said he intended to vote for the government motion said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that he had been deluged with emails from Labour supporters opposed to military strikes. |
| The list of lawmakers voting to begin airstrikes in Syria is likely to be scrutinized, particularly among Labour supporters. But that does not reflect voters’ opinions, Mr. Corbyn’s critics argue. | The list of lawmakers voting to begin airstrikes in Syria is likely to be scrutinized, particularly among Labour supporters. But that does not reflect voters’ opinions, Mr. Corbyn’s critics argue. |
| “People are saying that nobody who votes in favor of bombing will ever lead the Labour Party,” said the lawmaker, “and no one who votes against will lead the country.” | “People are saying that nobody who votes in favor of bombing will ever lead the Labour Party,” said the lawmaker, “and no one who votes against will lead the country.” |