Syria airstrikes: British pilots ‘have taken part in military action against Isis’

That’s the question troubling many MPs, not all of them on opposition benches. Cameron confirmed this at the time, saying airstrikes in Syria would require separate parliamentary authorization, which has never come. They were told their approval would be sought before any future air strikes in the country.

Airstrikes are being conducted without parliamentary approval, Reprieve learned through a freedom of information request. None are flying the missions now.

“ISIS have to be defeated in both countries”.

Defense Ministry revealed that about 10 personnel have taken part in the strikes on IS-held locations in Syria, using U.S. aircraft. John Baron, a Conservative MP, said: “The Government has promised there would be no British involvement in military action in Syria unless approved by Parliament yet British personnel have been involved”.

“Those individuals should be withdrawn from the embedded programme whilst this vote holds sway, while it still has authority, until we vote again. When embedded, United Kingdom personnel are effectively operating as foreign troops”.

Sir Michael Graydon, former chief of the air staff, said the exchange program had been happening for “many decades”, and the government was right “not to make a huge issue of it”.

“For us to be involved in this at this stage, without the sanction of the British people through Parliament and without proper thought being given to the way in which we nearly strengthen Isis by doing this, seems very wrong”.

“It is alarming that Parliament and the public have been kept in the dark about this for so long”.

“Past interventions and extensions of military action could at best be described as counter-productive, and at worst have helped to replenish the dark well from which terrorism springs”, he said.

In September of 2014, they voted in favor of airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq, but made it explicitly clear that they could not strike Syria.

“Enough British soldiers have been sent to foreign wars”, he said.

“Today, with more warnings of threats to our citizens in Tunisia… we’re fighting a new Battle of Britain”, he said.

Mr Fallon insisted the Government remained committed to seeking parliamentary approval before launching British air strikes on Syria.

“Stop the War demands the government publicly commits to an immediate end to British bombing of Syria”, the organization continued. “Where then would the Government have stood in having to announce to an unsuspecting public that members of the armed forces were being placed in harm’s way without a democratic vote in parliament or information to the people”.

Earlier this month, Cameron asked lawmakers to consider whether Britain should also join U.S.-led air strikes in Syria, targeting Islamic State militants rather than Assad’s forces.

“We voted in 2013… that there should be no British military intervention in Syria”.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who knew of the pilots’ role, failed to get approval from lawmakers in 2013 for military action in Syria.

RAF planes are already involved in surveillance flights and air-to-air refuelling operations over Syria in support of coalition strike missions.