The war against Isis is ‘far from over’ and more is needed to destroy the ‘evil’ terror group, the Defence Secretary has said on his first visit to Iraq.
Gavin Williamson visited British troops training their Iraqi counterparts at Taji and and in the capital Baghdad.
Mr Williamson met Iraq’s Defence Minister Erfan al-Hiyali and announced Britain would fund a £10million counter terrorism package in Iraq.
The visit came as the Ministry of Defence confirmed British air crews flew sorties over Iraq and Syria every day of the Christmas holidays, striking a series of targets.
The war against Isis is ‘far from over’ and more is needed to destroy the ‘evil’ terror group, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said on his first visit to Iraq (pictured)
Mr Williamson addressed British soldiers stationed at Taji (pictured) who are tasked with training their Iraqi colleagues for fighting on the front lines
Troops in Iraq are involved in training Iraqi soldiers on how to tackle improvised explosive devices (IEDs), battlefield medicine and obstacle crossing
Taji is currently home to 600 British soldiers from Charlie Company from the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) (pictured)
The most recent attack was last Friday when Tornadoes destroyed two terrorist positions being used to attack Syrian Democratic Forces in the east of the country.
In a press conference in Baghdad, Mr Williamson said the fight now ‘enters a new phase’.
He said Britain was committed to continue working with the US-led coalition to hunt down remaining Isis fighters in Syria and elsewhere.
The Defence Secretary said the Government is determined to ‘win the war online, preventing (IS) viral propaganda from recruiting yet more fanatical fighters.’
In a statement, Mr Williamson added: ‘The dangers we face are changing and are intensifying rapidly.
‘Eliminating the threat from terrorism is critical to our security at home and abroad.
‘Our brave Armed Forces are working tirelessly, day and night, to defeat Daesh after helping to recover significant territory in Iraq.
At press conference, Mr Williamson announced Britain would fund a £10million counter terrorism package in Iraq
The Defence Secretary said the Government is determined to ‘win the war online, preventing ISIS viral propaganda from recruiting yet more fanatical fighters.’
Mr Williamson held talks with with the Minister of Defence of Iraq, Erfan al-Hiyali (right) during his visit to the country
At the talks, Mr Williamson said Britain was committed to continue working with the US-led coalition to hunt down remaining Isis fighters in Syria and elsewhere
‘Only by defeating this evil and barbaric group for good will we reduce the deadly threat they pose to us, which is why we won’t stop until their global network is destroyed.’
In Kuwait, he met with US Lieutenant General Paul Funk the Commanding General of the global coalition as well as Major General Felix Gedney, Deputy Commander-Strategy and Support and the most senior UK officer in the military campaign against Daesh.
They discussed the success of the military campaign in both Iraq and Syria, but also reflected that Daesh have not yet been defeated as pockets of fighters still remain and will continue to pose a threat at home and abroad.
Mr Williamson triggered controversy shortly after he was appointed when he vowed those intent on bringing ‘destruction, death and bloodshed’ onto the streets of the UK were being ‘hunted down’ and that threat ‘eliminated’.
He said: ‘Quite simply, my view is a dead terrorist can’t cause any harm to Britain.’
He added: ‘I do not believe that any terrorist, whether they come from this country or any other, should ever be allowed back into this country.
‘We should do everything we can do to destroy and eliminate that threat.’
Mr Williamson also visited the Military School for Defence Studies in Baghdad during his trip (pictured)