UK: France can use Cyprus base for ISIL strikes

British Prime Minister David Cameron says he has offered France the use of RAF base in Cyprus for carrying out airstrikes against ISIL terrorists.

“I have offered President Hollande the use of RAF Akrotiri for French aircraft engaged in counter-ISIL operations and additional assistance for air-to-air refueling,” Cameron said during a joint press conference with French president at the Elysee Palace on Monday.

“We must also do more to defeat ISIL in their heartlands in Syria and Iraq. Later this week in parliament I will set out our comprehensive strategy for tackling ISIL . I firmly support the action President Hollande has taken to strike ISIL in Syria and it is my firm conviction that Britain should do so too. Of course, that will be a decision for parliament to make,” Cameron added.

The British premier reiterated that the fight against the terrorists needs “a pan-European effort.”

“We must, without further delay, agree the rules to enable us to share passenger name records. It is frankly ridiculous we can get more information from countries outside the EU than we can from each other,” Cameron added.

Now, a London-based political commentator believes the move is aimed at paving the way for the UK’s military intervention in Syria.

“The offer of Cameron to Holland to use Cyprus for bombing Syria comes in the context of Cameron planning to ask the British parliament to overturn the ban of two years ago that it made on British bombing of Syria,” said Jim Brann, from Stop the War Coalition.

Back in 2013, British lawmakers rejected Cameron’s call for carrying out air strikes in Syria.

The British government has already been seeking to convince the parliament to vote in favor of joining airstrike campaign in Syria.

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to devise a "comprehensive strategy" to win MPs' support for bombing ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

The British prime minister suggested that there could be a fresh vote on the issue in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Paris.

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