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British pilots bomb Syria in defiance of Commons vote

Deborah Haynes
The Times
The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which joined the operation against Isis in Iraq and Syria in October
The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which joined the operation against Isis in Iraq and Syria in October
EPA
Deborah Haynes
The Times

British pilots have launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria in effective defiance of a House of Commons vote against military action in the war zone, it emerged today.

The RAF and Royal Navy airmen were embedded with United States, Canadian and French air forces, which have permission to fly over Syria and drop bombs and missiles on the militant group, the Ministry of Defence revealed. Ministers were aware of the arrangement.

David Cameron had promised to give parliament a vote before any move to expand British airstrikes into Syria after MPs voted against military action in the country two years ago. British Tornado jets have been restricted to conducting attacks against Isis over Iraq.

The MoD said that the three Royal Navy pilots