Report: Britain involved in Syrian airstrikes

LONDON, July 17 (UPI) -- Britain's air force has participated in airstrikes in Syria, it was revealed Friday, a significant increase in Britain's involvement in fighting the Islamic State.

The information was discovered after a government response to a Freedom of Information inquiry by the British human rights group Reprieve, and reports about 20 British military personnel, including three pilots, embedded in a coalition mission in Syria, have engaged in airstrikes. It indicates Britain is involved in air missions on order of Prime Minster David Cameron and without the required consent of Parliament.

John Baron, conservative member of Parliament, demanded the personnel be withdrawn since Parliament had "said no to military involvement" in 2013.

Britain's Defense Ministry said in a statement that the United Kingdom has "a long-standing embed program with allies, where small numbers of U.K. personnel act under the command of host nations. The U.K. itself is not conducting airstrikes in Syria."

Cameron, an advocate of additional involvement in Syria, said he would welcome another vote in Parliament, but added he reserves the right to proceed without Parliament's approval to defend British interests.

Jennifer Gibson of Reprieve noted, "Documents obtained by Reprieve indicate that U.K. personnel have already been involved in bombing missions over Syria for some time - making the current debate over whether Britain should carry out such strikes somewhat obsolete." She called it "alarming" that the public and parliament have been "kept in the dark about this for so long."