Moves to authorise air strikes on Isis fighters in Syria are expected within weeks after the Defence Secretary said it should not be left to other countries to keep British streets safe. Michael Fallon told the Conservative Party conference that the jihadists had to be confronted wherever they “took root” and warned that deadly plots against this country were being orchestrated from Isis strongholds in northern Syria.
David Cameron paved the way to extending bombing raids against Isis from Iraq to its neighbour, announcing plans to double the unmanned drone fleet flying over Syria and to beef up SAS operations in the country. He also signalled that Isis fighters such as “Jihadi John” would be targeted in future raids.
Mr Fallon said: “This is no time for Britain to retreat from the world, to let terror triumph, or to put our people in peril.”