Tony Blair calls for 'proper ground war' against Daesh

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that the only way to defeat Daesh (ISIL) is via “a proper ground war” against the terror network.

 “There is no way of defeating these people without defeating them on the ground. Airstrikes are not going to defeat ISIS,” he said in a speech in central London on Tuesday.

The former Labour PM said an air campaign alone would not destroy the extremist group, calling for more Western troops on the battlefield.

“Do not be under any doubt at all. If we want to defeat these people we are going to have to wage a proper ground war against them.”

Blair admitted that he underestimated the forces of destabilization which would be unleashed following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

“For sure we underestimated profoundly the forces that were at work in the region and would take advantage of change once you topple the regime,” he said. “That is the lesson.”

“To be honest my understanding of the Middle East is a lot deeper today than it was when I was prime minister quite frankly,” he added.

His comments came weeks before the publication of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq invasion.

The report, to be published on July 6, is set to criticize Blair for committing to the US war and failing to consult his cabinet more fully before ordering British troops to Iraq.

The former PM refused to apologize for the invasion and said he would not comment on it until the report was made public.

Blair also warned that the divisive campaign rhetoric by US presidential candidate Donald Trump, including his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, would harm the fight against extremism.

“I want an American president strong, engaged, and is going to build the alliances necessary,” he said. “You’re not going to build alliances with those Muslim counties by denigrating all Muslims.”

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, criticized Blair earlier this month for colluding with former US President George W. Bush on the Iraq War.

The billionaire businessman said the upcoming Chilcot report will be a “disaster” for Blair. "I just think he goes down as somebody who did a terrible job."

The Chilcot inquiry was launched in 2009 by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown into the Iraq invasion and its aftermath that saw British forces remain in the Arab country for six years.

According to a White House memo, titled “Secret... Memorandum for the President,” Blair had agreed to support the war a year before the invasion and try to convince the public that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

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