We must wipe out Isil entirely, says Williamson
Without total defeat, the terrorist organisation will continue to inspire attacks in UK, warns Williamson
Britain must be prepared to fight a future insurgency unless Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) is wiped out in Syria, Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, has said. If Isil is not fully defeated, its “poisonous ideology” will cause further devastation, Mr Williamson warned.
BRITAIN must be prepared to fight a future insurgency unless Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) is wiped out in Syria, Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, has said.
If Isil is not fully defeated and if the momentum to destroy it falters and the jihadists are allowed to escape, their “poisonous ideology” will cause further devastation, Mr Williamson added.
Although virtually absent from Iraq and significantly degraded in Syria, Isil fighters remain a hidden danger. From around 50,000 fighters in 2014, the insurgents are now thought to number about 2,000. But from their hideouts in hills and caves, they continue to launch sadistic attacks on civilians, including beheadings, burning people alive and dragging victims behind motorbikes.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Defence Secretary is particularly concerned that Isil – also known as Daesh – might gain a foothold in Afghanistan on the back of a resurgent Taliban.
“Daesh is facing territorial defeat in Syria and Iraq but the battle against their poisonous ideology and barbarism is not over,” Mr Williamson said.
“We must be prepared as the terrorists change their approach and disperse into other countries.” He added that Isil remained a significant threat in the UK due to its ability to inspire, direct and launch attacks. “That is why we continue working through the Global Coalition to hunt down the terrorists wherever they lurk.”
Air Commodore Roddy Dennis, who leads Britain’s contribution to the air war against Isil, said it was no longer a credible force, but needed to be wiped out. “They’re running scared and know we’re hunting them,” he said at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, from where British aircraft are launched.
The air campaign comprises forces from 73 nations. Air Cdre Dennis says that the “fake caliphate” has been expelled from Iraq and the small pockets of resistance in Syria hold only two per cent of the territory they did in 2015.
Britain is the second largest contributor to the air war. Of the 27,000 air strikes since the campaign started in 2014, around 1,700 have been from British Typhoon and Tornado fighters and Reaper drones.
Declassified MOD video shows a strike by British Tornados on an Isil weapons facility on June 27. Two Paveway IV guided bombs were used to destroy the site with no civilian casualties.
Coalition ground troops have been supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in clearing the last pockets of resistance. A UK government spokesman said there were no British ground forces.
An RAF Intelligence Officer admitted Isil was a resilient enemy that had shot down a US helicopter in March and was now strapping bombs to shopbought drones, flying them at targets.
The presence of Russian forces in the conflict zone has complicated matters. Group Captain Chas Dickens, commander of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, said a hotline had been established between the coalition air headquarters in Qatar, and the Russians, to “de-escalate tension”.
He said: “We recognise it requires communication to ensure no miscalculation or unusual air activity.” An RAF Typhoon pilot, with more than 4,000 flying hours, said a simple system had been set up to ensure British and Russian jets avoided each other.
Meanwhile, an RAF Intelligence Officer said Isil’s use of torture and human shields proved it needed to be eradicated completely.
Gp Capt Dickens said: “Our mission is to defeat Daesh before they can export terrorism or inspire terrorism back in the UK. Terrorism is not defined by national borders; it’s inspired by a narrative. If we can defeat them as a fighting force, people will not be inspired by their message.
“What we are seeing is that they are increasingly leaving the battlefield. Their experience from Iraq and Syria is that if they stay, we will target them and we will kill them from the air.”