Engineers were seen checking over the fighter jets at RAF Marham as Parliament meets to vote on whether the UK should join the air strikes against Islamic state militants in Syria. If the MPs agree then the jets could be flying out to the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus within hours of tonight’s vote, which will take place at around 9pm.
The planes were also spotted flying in and out of the Norfolk airbase today as military activity was stepped up. British Tornado fighters have been involved in airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq for the past year.
Prime Minister David Cameron presented his case for war in the Commons last week saying UK air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria would “make us safer.” He told MPs the UK was already a target for IS – and the only way to deal with that was to “take action now.” Two years ago MPs rejected strikes against Syrian government forces, but last year Parliament approved British participation in strikes against Islamic extremists in Iraq.
American fighter planes from RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk have been involved in strikes in Syria since the Paris attacks.
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