BRITAIN should expect to be in Syria for a long time, according to the Prime Minister.
Talking to the BBC as RAF planes targeted an oil field in the east of the country, David Cameron said the UK would need to be “patient and persistent”.
“This is going to take time. It is complex and it is difficult, what we are asking our pilots to do, and our thoughts should be with them and their families as they commence this important work,” he said.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon later suggested the UK could be in Syria for three years.
Four British Tornado GR4 fighter bombers, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, an unmanned Reaper drone and other coalition aircraft were in the air within an hour of MPs backing the war in the Commons on Wednesday,
Their target was the Daesh-controlled al-Omar oil field in the east of Syria, close to the country’s border with Iraq. The Islamic militants took control of the oil field, the country’s largest, in July last year.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said the jets attacked six targets in the fields.
“Carefully selected elements of the oilfield infrastructure were targeted, ensuring the strikes will have a significant impact on Daesh’s ability to extract the oil to fund their terrorism,” the statement said.
“By extending RAF offensive operations into Syria, our aircraft are now able to help dismantle the means by which Daesh plan, direct and sustain their campaign of terror.
“Before our aircrew conducted their attacks, as is normal they used the aircraft’s advanced sensors to confirm that no civilians were in the proximity of the targets, who might be placed at risk. Our initial analysis of the operation indicates that the strikes were successful.”
The oilfield is said to be worth more than 10 per cent of Daesh’s potential income from oil.
Fallon said the air campaign would last until “Daesh are thrown out of Iraq and they are degraded and defeated in eastern Syria.” This, he said, “is not going to be quick.” The Defence Secretary added: “We want a new Syrian state including some of those who are fighting ... on the ground. Obviously we hope in Syria we will be able to get the Free Syrian Army, who at the moment largely have been fighting [the forces of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad], involved.
“The best news is the peace process is under way, [involving] all the key partners, like Russia and Turkey. That will lead to a transitional settlement in Syria that will lead to the departure of President Assad, and a new government that can lead to elections in Syria.”
Six Typhoons based at RAF Lossiemouth and two Tornados based in Yorkshire have now joined the UK strikeforce at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus.
In Holyrood, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her thoughts and good wishes were with the British military in Syria.
“I am sure we are all mindful that British service personnel, many of them based at Lossiemouth, are now in action over Syria,” she said.
“I remain deeply troubled by the decision of the UK Government to take the country into conflict with no strategy, no exit plan and against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Scotland’s MPs.”
The SNP’s Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said the Government needed to prepared for the consequences of its actions.
“Parliament’s decision will lead to a greater number of Syrian refugees, and so we now have a moral obligation to expand our current plans to offer shelter to the men, women and children who will inevitably suffer as a consequence.
“We need to revise our strategy for dealing with this and welcome more Syrians to the safety of our country.”
The effects of the vote were still being felt keenly in the Labour party. Despite most of the Shadow Cabinet and most of the PLP voting with Jeremy Corbyn against air strikes yesterday, Hilary Benn’s speech gave the more moderate section of the party an undeniable boost.
Talk of Benn replacing Corbyn as leader reached fever pitch as bookmakers slashed his odds to be the party’s next leader from 25/1 two weeks ago to 3/1.
Yesterday party activists were out in Oldham for the by-election caused by Michael Meacher’s death. The party’s odds on securing this once safe Labour seat have slipped considerably over the week. A poor result could see the party ask a weakened Corbyn to stand aside.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell launched a subtle attack on Benn, saying his speech reminded him of Tony Blair on the vote to take the UK into the Iraq war in 2003.
“It reminded me of Tony Blair’s speech. I am always anxious the greatest oratory can lead us to the greatest mistakes.”
Tim Dalyell: Tony Benn would turn in grave at his son’s speech
Petition against air strikes gets 80,000 signatures in a day
Vonny Moyes: Few crumbs of comfort in bombs at breakfast
Patrick Harvie: There are other ways to strike at Daesh
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp: Westminster: Out of touch, out of date, out of time...
The National View: Bombs over Syria demonstrate UK’s willingness to act in ignorance yet again
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