UK Military Mission In Iraq 'To Last Months'

British troops have been back on the ground in Iraq for the first time since 2009, as the Government admitted the UK's involvement "is not simply a humanitarian mission".

RAF aircraft have continued flying reconnaissance missions to help the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants after troops from the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire regiment were sent in to Irbil.

They were in the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region for 24 hours to prepare the ground for a possible rescue operation by Chinook helicopters.

But Defence Minister Michael Fallon told pilots and other service members taking part in the UK's general Iraq mission that it was likely to last "weeks and months".

Speaking at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where the UK operation is based, he said: "There may well now be in the next few weeks and months other ways that we may need to help save life (and) protect people and we are going to need all of you again and the surveillance you are able to give us.

Kurdish peshmerga fighters have reportedly regained control of Mosul dam

"We want to help the new government of Iraq and Kurdish forces. We want to help them stop the advance of IS and stop them from being terrorised.

"This is not simply a humanitarian mission. We and other countries in Europe are determined to do what we can to help the government of Iraq combat this new and very extreme form of terrorism that IS is promoting."

It came after David Cameron said British "military prowess" would have to play a part in pushing back the threat from IS, the group previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The Prime Minister said IS posed a "clear danger" to the UK and that the country would engage in military and diplomatic efforts alongside work to help refugees fleeing massacres.

Peshmerga fighters on the way to the Mosul dam

But senior Church of England bishops accused him of having no "coherent or comprehensive approach" to Islamist extremism and said he was failing to protect Christians from persecution.

The Bishop of Leeds used a strongly-worded letter to the PM - sanctioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury - to criticise a "growing silence" over the plight of persecuted Christians.

The RAF has deployed the Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft alongside Tornado jets to provide intelligence on IS movements across Iraq.

And security officials say Kurdish peshmerga fighters - aided by US air strikes - have regained some control of the strategically-important Mosul dam in a major boost for anti-IS forces.

Mr Cameron, who has resisted calls to recall Parliament to debate the crisis, ruled out sending in ground troops "to fight or occupy" but said tough action would be needed.

He said the IS aim of creating a "caliphate" across a swathe of the Middle East stretching close to Europe was "a clear danger" that could result in the violence spreading to the UK's streets.

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