SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said he will be voting against air strikes in Iraq later today in the House of Commons.
MPs have gathered in Westminster to vote on British involvement in US-led attacks on IS positions.
Mr Durkan said he would voting against air strikes simply because he was not confident that it would be as limited – or remain as limited – as its advocates seemed to be saying.
He added: “It is also going to be hard not to end up mired in a deeper situation – or sucked into a situation – of troops on the ground.
“Whilst I can fully understand those who want to respond in a sharp way – especially given the nature of what IS has done and we know are capable of doing – I am still not convinced that these measures can be effective in the precision way that people claim.
“We have had all sorts of claims in the past about precision air strikes in Afghanistan and elsewhere which have led to the deaths of thousands of innocent people.”
Mr Durkan concluded: “Indeed, the Israelis are supposed to have the sharpest technology available and look at how many innocent people they have killed in Gaza.”
The vote is expected to take place around 5.00pm today.
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