Counter-Daesh Update Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Counter-Daesh Update

Peter Grant Excerpts
Thursday 13th July 2017

(7 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Fallon Portrait Sir Michael Fallon
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On the first point, we have not yet defeated the virtual caliphate. It is important that, across the coalition, we now intensify our efforts to destroy that caliphate in cyberspace as effectively as we are beginning to undermine it in Iraq itself. On returning fighters, that is predominantly a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. However, Daesh is a proscribed organisation. Fighting for Daesh is a criminal offence and, where those people can be properly prosecuted, they will be charged on their return.

Peter Grant Portrait Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP)
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In December 2015, we were assured that, with the support of UK airstrikes, we could expect to see a transitional Government in Syria within six months, and that there were 70,000 moderate ground troops ready to carry out a ground war in tandem with coalition airstrikes. What is the Secretary of State’s current assessment as to when we can expect to see a transitional Government in Syria? How many of those 70,000 ground troops ever actually existed?