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Anti-war groups: bombing Iraq no solution to Isis

by Our News Desk

ANTI-WAR activists lambasted the extension of bombing in Iraq yesterday as doing absolutely nothing to tackle Isis.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced that RAF Tornado bombers will continue in service March 2017, a year after they were scheduled to be mothballed, “to sustain our effort, helping the Iraqis lead the fight on the ground.”

He boasted: “RAF Tornados have carried out hundreds of strikes, helping Iraqi forces push back Isis from the Kurdish region and out of key towns such as Tikrit and Bayji.”

Mr Fallon argued that other countries involved in the bombing would certainly welcome the participation of Tornado strikes against Isis headquarters in northern Syria.

Stop the War Coalition national officer Chris Nineham asked why the government is extending its bombing campaign that’s “going nowhere.”

He told the Star: “Hundreds of civilians are being killed. This is only going to increase the anger felt by locals towards Britain and other coalition countries.”

Mr Nineham said Stop the War will continue campaigning across the summer to try and ensure that any parliamentary vote of further action against Syria is defeated.

Left Labour leadership favourite Jeremy Corbyn blamed the war in Iraq as partly responsible for the formation of Isis.

He said: “I think further bombing is actually going to inflame the situation, it’s going to lead to a lot of civilian casualties and therefore I’m not in favour of continuing the bombing or extending the bombing into Syria.”

Mr Corbyn called instead on a coalition of neighbouring countries to stop the supply of arms and money to Isis while cutting off its oil exports.

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