Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Britain votes to join US-led air strikes against jihadists
British Prime Minister David Cameron speaking in the House of Commons. 
News
September 25, 2014

Britain votes to join US-led air strikes against jihadists

LONDON, England (AFP) – British lawmakers on Friday voted overwhelmingly to join anti-jihadist air strikes in Iraq as US-led raids in Syria disrupted the Islamic State group’s lucrative oil-pumping operations.

The House of Commons voted by a majority of 524 to 43 after the main political parties all approved military action saying that “lessons from the past” of the 2003 Iraq war had been learned.

“This is not a threat on the far side of the world. Left unchecked, we will face a terrorist caliphate on the shores of the Mediterranean,” Prime Minister David Cameron said ahead of the vote.

He warned the campaign could last for “years” as dissenting MPs in the debate questioned the duration and scope of the operation.

Washington is eager to build the broadest possible coalition to tackle IS, which has captured large areas of Syria and Iraq and declared an Islamic “caliphate”.

Britain’s Royal Air Force would join warplanes from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan hitting IS targets.

Following the vote, British action is expected within days at the latest despite planned anti-war protests.

In recent days, Washington and its allies have carried out bombing targeting the funding sources of what US President Barack Obama has branded a “network of death”.

In the latest airstrikes, US planes destroyed four tanks operated by militants in Syria as well as several vehicles and jihadist positions in Iraq, the Pentagon said.

The US-led coalition also bombed oil refineries in east and northeast Syria where IS jihadists extract crude for sale on the black market, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group.

Experts say sales of oil from Syria and Iraq usually earn IS between US$1 million and US$3 million a day.

But now, according to activists in Deir Ezzor, pumping has stopped.

“Oil extraction has been halted because of the security situation,” said Leith al-Deiri who spoke to AFP via the Internet.

Another activist from Deir Ezzor, Rayan al-Furati, confirmed the halt.

“There are no traders or clients going to the fields, (because they are) fearing the strikes,” he said.

Britain and France have both been careful to rule out launching strikes in Syria at the hub of the IS group’s power, unlike the Arab allies taking part in the aerial campaign.

“I do believe there’s a strong case for us to do more in Syria but I did not want to bring a motion to the house today which there wasn’t consensus for,” Cameron said on Friday.

Denmark said Friday it would send seven F-16 fighters to help combat IS militants in Iraq, joining Belgium and the Netherlands which also plan to deploy six aircraft each.

The Netherlands will also provide 250 military personnel and 130 trainers for the Iraqi military, and Greece said it would send arms to Kurdish forces battling the jihadists.

Turkey has so far declined to take part in military action, and has denied claims that its airspace or airbases have been used by coalition forces.

But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Ankara had changed its stance on its involvement in the campaign against IS following the release of Turkish hostages held in Iraq,

He said that “necessary steps” would be taken by parliament on October 2, without elaborating.

IS’s brutal abuses against civilians, rival fighters and Arab and Western hostages, as well as its success in recruiting Western members, have triggered international alarm.

FBI director James Comey said Thursday there was “no doubt” that jihadists would try to stage revenge attacks in the United States.

“The logic is that if they aspire to be the leader of the global jihad you don’t get there without striking America,” he said.

He also said the FBI had identified the Islamic State jihadist with a British accent who has appeared in videos showing the beheading of two US journalists and a British aid worker, although he declined to give further details.

On Thursday and Friday, police in London arrested 11 people suspected of links to Islamic extremists, including a notorious radical preacher.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Trump signs order giving government access to powerful AI models
International News, Latest News
Trump signs order giving government access to powerful AI models
June 2, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order creating a voluntary framework under ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Brown questions Govt’s plans for BPO sector under threat from AI
Latest News, News
Brown questions Govt’s plans for BPO sector under threat from AI
June 2, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation, Christopher Brown, is sounding the alarm about the future ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Integrity Commission report on FLA finally tabled
Latest News, News
Integrity Commission report on FLA finally tabled
Jerome Williams Observer Staff Reporter williamsj@jamaicaobserver.com 
June 2, 2026
The long-awaited Integrity Commission report into the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, uncovering concerns about...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Campbell wants permanent disaster fund to aid farmers, fisherfolk
Latest News, News
Campbell wants permanent disaster fund to aid farmers, fisherfolk
June 2, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and their devastating consequences, Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and Fis...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Wheatley announces ‘House of Innovation’ to drive growth
Latest News, News
Wheatley announces ‘House of Innovation’ to drive growth
June 2, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr Andrew Wheatley has announced that he will be seeking Cabinet approval fo...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
TWP Attorneys launches ‘Lunch and Learn’ initiative to strengthen development within the  legal profession
Latest News, News
TWP Attorneys launches ‘Lunch and Learn’ initiative to strengthen development within the legal profession
June 2, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Local law practice TWP Attorneys-at-Law has launched its inaugural “Lunch and Learn” Initiative, a professional development progra...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Farmers, fisherfolk struggling, says Campbell
Latest News, News
Farmers, fisherfolk struggling, says Campbell
June 2, 2026
Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Dayton Campbell has argued that despite some progress, too many farmers and fisherfolk are still...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Beauty and the Beast’ singer Peabo Bryson dead at 75
Entertainment, International News, Latest News
‘Beauty and the Beast’ singer Peabo Bryson dead at 75
June 2, 2026
Legendary R&B singer Peabo Bryson, known for songs including A Whole New World from Aladdin ,  passed away on Tuesday, according to a statement shared...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct