COMBATTING the threat from Isis in Syria should not be left to French, Australian and American war planes, British defence secretary Michael Fallon told the Conservative Party conference yesterday.
In a clear signal the British Government is moving closer to an expected Commons vote on expanding Britain's bombing campaign from Iraq into Syria, Michael Fallon said the country faces its "most serious threat in a generation".
He told activists at the conference in Manchester that British pilots were flying "day and night" in the fight against Isis, also known as Isil or the so-called Islamic State.
Mr Fallon's remarks followed an announcement Britain was buying more predator drones.
But the defence secretary added: "Isil's terror in Iraq and against us here is directed from northern Syria.
"Isil recognises no borders and has to be taken on wherever it roots. So we should not leave it to French, Australian, or American aircraft to keep our own streets safe."
Earlier, British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "change direction" and turn his fire on Isis.
Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Tragically, what has happened is that most of the Russian airstrikes, as far as we have been able to see so far, have been in parts of Syria not controlled by Isil but by other opponents of the regime."
