Defense Secretary: Britain not to take part in any Syria war

British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond has stressed that his country would not participate in any possible military action against Syria after Prime Minister David Cameron suffered one of the biggest foreign-policy defeats at the parliament.

“I hoped we would carry the argument but we understand there is a deep well of suspicion about involvement in the Middle East,” Hammond said.

The United States, a key ally, would be disappointed that Britain “will not be involved,” he added, but said: “I don’t expect that the lack of British participation will stop any action”.

“They will be disappointed that Britain will not be involved. I don’t expect that the lack of British participation will stop any action,” said Philip Hammond, adding that the decision would harm Britain’s relationship with Washington.

Following more than seven hours of debate in a special parliamentary session, lawmakers voted 285 to 272 against a government motion on the broad principle of intervening in Syria following the Aug. 21 suspected chemical-weapon attack near Damascus which killed hundreds of people.

Hammond said the fear of being dragged into a wider conflict and the legacy of the UK’s decision to take part in the Iraq war 10 years ago had swung the vote in parliament.

“It’s certainly going to place some strain on the special relationship [with the U.S.],” he said. “The Americans understand the parliamentary process…Perhaps they have been surprised by the scale of opposition.”
He added that he imagined the Syrian government would welcome the decision of the U.K. parliament.