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Pressure to Expand Syrian Airstrikes as 330 ISIL Militants Killed by UK RAF

© AP Photo / Vadim GhirdaSmoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following an airstrike by the US led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, Nov. 17, 2014.
Smoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following an airstrike by the US led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. - Sputnik International
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According to UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, Britain's Royal Air Force has killed 330 ISIS militants in Iraq, whilst RAF jets and drones have been deployed around 1,300 times.

Answering a written parliamentary question from Green MP Caroline Lucas, Mr Fallon said:

"The estimated number of ISIL fighters killed as a result of UK strikes from September 2014 to 31 August 2015 is around 330."

"This figure is highly approximate, not least given the absence of UK ground troops in a position to observe the effects of strike activity".

Fallon added that the government does not "believe there have been any civilian casualties as a result of UK strike activity. Any overall estimates would be a matter for the coalition."

A Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft - Sputnik International
Legal Questions Raised Over Cameron’s Targeted Strike of Britons in Syria
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has once again suggested that the UK should pursue with its military mission in Iraq, extending it into Syria. A move rejected by parliament in 2013, when MPs voted against any British military action.

Meanwhile, drone attacks in Syria recently killed two suspected British jihadis, Reyaad Khan and Ruhuk Amin. David Cameron justified the attack on legal grounds of self-defense — but the new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has suggested the strike was "legally questionable".

In 2014, MPs from all parties approved air strikes against ISIL extremists in Iraq. In July 2015, Britain's Defense Secretary said the UK should consider air strikes in Syria to combat extremists operating from the country — but added that a Parliamentary vote would be needed first.

Jeremy Corbyn recently told the Observer that:

"The Prime Minister will soon again be asking us to bomb Syria. That won't help refugees, it will create more."

Military action might not only lead to more refugees fleeing conflict, as Corbyn suggests — but potentially escalate the surge in support in the area for Islamic State.

© AP Photo / Lefteris Pitarakis, FileIn this Oct. 22, 2014, file photo, thick smoke from an airstrike by the US-led coalition rises in Kobani, Syria, as seen from a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border
In this Oct. 22, 2014, file photo, thick smoke from an airstrike by the US-led coalition rises in Kobani, Syria, as seen from a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border - Sputnik International
In this Oct. 22, 2014, file photo, thick smoke from an airstrike by the US-led coalition rises in Kobani, Syria, as seen from a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border

US President Barack Obama recently said: "We're going to have to pick up our game to prevent these attacks" and to prevent "lone wolf" attacks on US soil. But Obama was accused by republicans of not having a successful strategy.

"His rhetoric doesn't match reality. Over the last year, ISIL has expanded its reach exponentially — and the group's influence continues to grow," said Senator Tom Cotton.

The head of the MI5 in the UK, however, has told British media that the terror threat to Britain is at its highest level in over 30 years and is "growing".

Andrew Parker, director-general of MI5 said police and intelligence agencies had foiled six terrorist plots in the past year alone.

"That is the highest number I can recall in my 32-year career, certainly the highest number since 9/11."

But it appears David Cameron is hoping to win over public and political opinion to increase support for air strikes in Syria by using the list of successful strikes in Iraq announced by Michael Fallon and reported in the British press.

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