NICOLA Sturgeon reaffirmed SNP opposition to military action in Syria saying she “did not think the case for air strikes” had been made.

In the wake of the horrendous attacks in Paris last week, public opinion has perhaps understandably shifted with more people in the UK indicating they support bombing Daesh targets than before.

However, as the First Minister pointed out in the BBC interview yesterday the efficacy of air strikes needs to be examined with a cool and rational head.

The US has been bombing Daesh targets in Syria for more than a year, but they have clearly failed to halt the extremists.

There remain huge concerns about the unintended consequences of such military intervention – the inevitable deaths of innocent people caught up in the bombings and the fear such killings of civilians would in turn spark the radicalisation of moderate men and women.

It is feared such events would ultimately strengthen the deadly power of Daesh – which is precisely, of course, what the leaders of this murderous organisation want to achieve.


Sturgeon: PM must prove Syria air strikes case

The National View: We must keep a cool head on Syria action