British Parliament expected to approve anti-ISIS airstrikes in Syria

British Prime Minister David Cameron cut Malawi's foreign aid by $30 million after the African nation sentenced a gay couple to 14 months of hard labor for holding an engagement party.
(Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Britain's House of Commons will debate whether to give Prime Minister David Cameron the authority to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State inside Syria. Parliament approved airstrikes inside Iraq but rejected bombing Syria in 2013. After the ISIS attack in Paris, Cameron is expected to win this vote, meaning Britain could join the U.S., Russia, France, and a handful of other countries dropping bombs on ISIS targets within a few days.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is against the proposal, but his party is split, and Corbyn's aides say up to 90 Labour MPs will likely vote for the expanded airstrikes. With the Liberal Democrats and Democratic Unionist Party favoring Cameron's bid, the measure is expected to pass after the 10-hour debate. You can watch British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond preview the government's argument in the video below. Peter Weber

Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.