David Cameron warned to have clear path for victory over IS in Syria before calling on MPs to back military action
David Cameron should not ask MPs to back military action against Islamic State in Syria until he can show there is a clear plan to both defeat the jihadists and end the bloody civil war in the Middle East state, a powerful Commons committee has said.
In a major blow to the Prime Minister's hopes of extending the British mission against IS into Syria, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee said it was "not yet persuaded" that Mr Cameron would be able to address their concerns.
It comes as Downing Street dismissed claims that Mr Cameron has changed his policy on Syria following reports he has shelved plans for a Commons vote on air strikes in the country.
In a strongly-worded report, the Tory-led committee warned that RAF strikes would only have a "marginal effect", but could be a "distraction" and compromise efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The MPs acknowledged the "humanitarian and security catastrophe" in Syria meant there was a "powerful sense that something must be done", and that defeating IS was a "necessary goal for the UK".
The MPs warned of "further reputational damage" to the UK if the legal basis of air strikes is not clear, and recommended seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution, which is likely to be hard to achieve given the impasse between the West and Russia on the issue.
They said a bombing campaign would require "reliable" allies on the ground to identify targets and hold ground, but the chaotic situation meant "these would not be easy to find".
And they demanded explanations of how military action would improve the chances of success against IS, how it would contribute to a transition plan in Syria and whether RAF strikes would have support from regional powers including Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
But Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Defeating Isil and ending the Syrian conflict are two faces of the same problem that Britain is working tirelessly with our international partners to overcome.
"Britain remains committed to using every tool available to save lives and create the conditions for peace in Iraq and Syria."