Cameron: 'We Are Not Going To War In Iraq'

David Cameron has insisted that Britain will not be getting involved in another war in Iraq.

He spoke out after reports Britain had sent some ground troops to Irbil, to prepare the way for "more than humanitarian aid".

The comments came amid reports on Iraq state TV that Kurdish troops have retaken the strategic Mosul dam from Islamic militants.

The UK is considering arming peshmerga troops fighting IS extremists

Peshmerga fighters have been battling Islamic State fighters, with the aid of US airstrikes, after the dam was seized by the militants 10 days ago.

The development came as Mr Cameron chose to appear on television to assure families that British soldiers would not become involved in another Iraq war.

He said: "I want to be absolutely clear to you and to families watching at home, Britain is not going to get involved in another war in Iraq.

A US airstrike against an IS position near Mosul Dam

"We are not going to be putting boots on the ground. We are not going to be sending in the British Army."

He continued: "Yes, we should use all the assets that we have, our diplomacy, our political relationships, our aid, the military prowess, the expertise that we have to help others - we should use these things as part of a strategy to put pressure on Islamic State and make sure this terrorist organisation is properly addressed and it cannot cause mayhem on our own streets."

David Cameron previously conceded that Britain's role will go beyond humanitarian aid and involve "limited action" to prevent violence spreading to British streets.

Michael Fallon says Britain's involvement could last 'weeks and months'

But he said: "So we are helping the Kurds, we are working with the Iraqi government to make sure it is more representative of the whole country and, of course, we are working with neighbours and allies to put the maximum amount of pressure on IS and make sure it is properly dealt with.

"We have said that if the Kurds, the peshmerga, want to have arms from us, that is something we would consider favourably.

"Up to now they have not been making that request. Really the sort of weapons they have been using have been more eastern bloc variety, and so they have been supplied by others."

Mr Cameron's comments came after his defence secretary Michael Fallon said the UK's Iraq mission would likely last "weeks and months".

It also emerged that British troops have been back on the ground in Iraq for the first time since 2009.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire regiment were sent to Irbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, to prepare the way for a rescue mission to help stranded Yazidi people.

It is understood the rescue operation would involve Chinook helicopters.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Cameron: 'We Are Not Going To War In Iraq'

Dengan url

http://gagalcoba.blogspot.com/2014/08/cameron-we-are-not-going-to-war-in-iraq.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Cameron: 'We Are Not Going To War In Iraq'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Cameron: 'We Are Not Going To War In Iraq'

sebagai sumbernya