‘Iraq airstrikes won’t defeat ISIS, only kill civilians’ – anti-war group
Peace activists have condemned the British government’s campaign of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq, insisting continued bombing of the region will fail to defeat the terror group and lead to further civilian fatalities.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado jets will continue bombing Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) targets in Iraq into 2017, a full year after they were scheduled to withdraw from the state.
Fallon, who made the announcement on Tuesday, said Tornados had carried out hundreds of airstrikes that have helped push militants back from Iraq’s Kurdish region and out of “key towns such as Tikrit and Bayji.”
He added states involved in the military coalition would also welcome Britain’s extended contribution to strikes against IS strongholds in northern Syria.
