Cameron to set out Syria strategy to MPs within days

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Prime Minister David Cameron is to set out his strategy for Syria's future and tacking the Islamic State group in the region before MPs this week.

The cross-party Foreign Affairs Committee said last month that British military action in Syria could not be extended without a "coherent" plan.

The PM's strategy will be followed by a push to convince MPs to allow military action in Syria, the BBC understands.

MPs voted against UK military action against the Syrian government in 2013.

But they did later approve British participationin air strikes against IS extremists in Iraq.

'Before Christmas'

The new push for Commons support for action in Syria will be aimed at MPs across the political spectrum.

The Foreign Affairs Committee report said "there should be no extension of British military action into Syria unless there is a coherent international strategy that has a realistic chance of defeating Isil (Islamic State)".

BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says the prime minister now believes he can answer the committee's concerns, and will set out a series of diplomatic, political and military proposals towards the end of the week.

However, there will be no rush to bring about a vote on military action, says our correspondent, with Downing Street sources saying they do not have enough promises of "definitive support" to ensure a clear victory at this stage.

But some Sunday newspapers, including the telegraph and the Times, report that a vote, followed by bombing raids in Syria, could come before Christmas.

The SNP remain opposed to such a move, believing the UN Security Council has not given specific legal authority for any action.

Hollande meeting

But privately, some Labour shadow ministers say they are willing to support the prime minister rather than their own more cautious leader Jeremy Corbyn if a convincing case is made for air strikes as an element in a wider strategy, said Iain Watson.

Mr Corbyn opposes UK forces joining allied air strikes against IS strongholds in Syria, but is under pressure to allow his MPs a free vote on the issue.

He has said Labour would support "every necessary measure" to protect people in the UK, but it was "vital" in a time of tragedy following the Paris attacks "not to be drawn into responses that feed a cycle of violence".

IS has claimed responsibility for the gun and suicide bomb attacks in the French capital on 13 November, which left 130 dead.

Image copyright PAImage caption

Lord Dannatt says Syrian refugees should be armed to fight against IS militants

Former defence secretary Liam Fox says Britain should not rule out sending ground troops into Syria as part of an international coalition.

Writing in the Telegraph, he said: "We may still require an international coalition on the ground, similar to that which forced Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, if we are to rid ourselves of the Isil scourge."

Also in the Telegraph, Lord Dannatt, the former head of the Army, says Syrian refugees in border camps should be armed, trained and returned "to fight for their villages, towns and cities".

"It may sound harsh, but some of their blood should be shed in the attack on Isil before we even consider committing British ground troops to combat," he said.

On Friday, a UN Security Council resolution co-sponsored by the UK, which called on nations to "redouble and co-ordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist attacks" using all necessary measures,received universal approval.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron will meet French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Monday to discuss the fight against terror.