France believes it is “absolutely essential” for the UK to participate in air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria following the atrocities in Paris, the country’s ambassador in London said.
Sylvie Bermann said it would be “strange” for the UK to offer solidarity and support in response to the massacre in the French capital but then not to fly alongside the country’s jets in Syria.
She warned that the UK faced the same threat from IS as France and the RAF offered significant military capabilities which would be useful in the fight against the jihadis in Syria.
Asked how important it was for the UK to join in the strikes in Syria, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is absolutely essential.”
She said it was “very important because we are allies” and “we have always fought side by side”.
David Cameron hopes to build a consensus behind military action before any vote in the Commons on RAF strikes in Syria, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not support an extension of the bombing campaign.
Ms Bermann said: “We received a lot of solidarity and support from the UK so it would be strange now not to participate in the fight.
“In fact, those people are planning attacks in France, in Belgium, but probably also in London.”
She added that the UK had the capability of carrying out “precision strikes” which would be useful to the alliance already tackling IS in Syria.