British Prime Minister David Cameron called on Parliament to authorize airstrikes against ISIS fighters in Iraq, saying in a speech at the United Nations on Wednesday that his country "should now move to a new phase of action." Cameron made the remarks a day after he told NBC News he was certain the terror group was plotting attacks in Europe.
Parliament will reconvene Friday to vote on allowing airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq, which would mark the first time that Britain has approved military strikes against the Islamist militant group that has seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria, executed one British citizen and threatened to behead a second.
“We must not be so frozen with fear that we don't do anything at all," Cameron told the 193-member United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. "We have a need to act in our own national interest to protect our people and our society. So it is right that Britain should now move to a new phase of action."
In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams on Tuesday, Cameron said he is certain ISIS militants are planning terror attacks in Europe. "These people want to kill us," Cameron said. "They've got us in their sights and we have put together this coalition ... to make sure that we ultimately destroy this evil organization."
The United Kingdom had previously announced it would deliver machine guns and ammunition to Kurdish and Iraqi forcing battling ISIS in Iraq. Cameron has been clear that his country would not yet get involved in airstrikes against ISIS fighters in Syria. The U.S. and Arab allies have carried out airstrikes in Syria for three nights. French fighter jets have also launched airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq.
IN-DEPTH
- Britain's David Cameron on ISIS: 'These People Want to Kill Us'
- Obama on ISIS Airstrikes: 'This Is Not America's Fight Alone'
- Syria Attack: U.S. and Allies Launch Strikes Against ISIS Targets