British drones to spy over Syria

London, Oct. 21: British drones deployed to counter ISIS jihadists in Iraq will also be used for surveillance over Syria to gather intelligence as part of efforts to protect national security from the terrorist threat emanating from there, defence secretary Michael Fallon said on Tuesday. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond had announced last week that unmanned Reaper drones were being re- deployed from Afghanistan to the Middle East.

Britain’s Parliament has authorised airstrikes in Iraq, where Tornado fighter jets are part of an international operation conducting bombing raids on ISIS group targets, but not in Syria. Mr Fallon also said in a written statement to Parliament that the drones would start operations “very shortly”. “As well as their operations over Iraq, both Reapers and Rivet joint surveillance aircraft will be authorised to fly surveillance missions over Syria to gather intelligence as part of our efforts to protect our national security from the terrorist threat emanating from there,” he said.

“Reapers are not authorised to use weapons in Syria; that would require further permission.” During the debate on strikes against targets in Iraq last month, PM David Cameron said he would return to Parliament to seek fresh permission if it was necessary. But he also stressed that it could go ahead without a parliamentary vote in the event of an urgent humanitarian situation. Britain is supplying weapons, ammunition and training to Kurdish Peshmerga forces.