Defence leaders discuss Syria with Muslim communities

Defence leaders have met with 30 influential members of British Muslim communities to discuss UK military action against ISIL in Syria and Iraq.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, Chief of Defence Staff Sir Nick Houghton, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Gordon Messenger and Defence Minister Earl Howe were among leaders who explained how military airstrikes are conducted, the targeting process and the steps being taken to minimise civilian damage across Syria and Iraq.

Fallon looked to address how some members of the British Muslim community feel unsettled by the military action, calling for better communication about the operations.

The meeting coincides with the ‘Supporting Syria & the Region’ conference taking place on 4 February, bringing together world leaders to discuss a united response to the crisis.

Fallon said: “Today’s meeting was a chance to explain why we’ve extended the air campaign against Daesh from Iraq to Syria, as our enemies will do everything in their power to portray our intervention as a clash of civilisations.

“This categorically isn’t a war against Muslims, or about picking a side between Sunni and Shia, or about targeting innocents. We are part of a coalition made up of many Muslim countries. And we fight to defeat a terrorist group who have killed more Muslims than any others, and who hate everything we stand for.”

Dr Husna Ahmad OBE, the CEO of Global One, the UK’s only Muslim women-led international development NGO, said: “It’s really good that the Ministry of Defence is taking the lead on engaging, understanding and listening to Muslim communities. Often we get our information from the media, so it’s not always reliable. Meetings like these allow us to hear the information directly from the military themselves.”