Updated 06:06 a.m. Moscow Time
UNITED NATIONS, September 25 (RIA Novosti) – British Prime Minister David Cameron called for an international fight against all forms of extremism, addressing the UN General Assembly, saying he would seek parliamentary approval for United Kingdom's involvement in air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants.
Cameron said that in order for the IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), to be eradicated, the international coalition must "win the battle of ideas, not just the battle of military might."
"We need to deal with all forms of extremism, not just violent extremism," Cameron stressed, noting, however, that military force has to be used "to hunt down these extremists."
"It is right that Britain should now move to a new phase of action," Cameron said. "I am therefore recalling the British Parliament on Friday to secure approval for the United Kingdom to take part in international air strikes against ISIL in Iraq," the British Prime Minister added.
If the British parliament approves the military intervention, the United Kingdom could join the United States and France in fighting the IS insurgents in Iraq this weekend.
On Tuesday, the Unites States carried out a number of airstrikes against IS positions in Syria, using aircraft, drones and Tomahawk missiles. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also reportedly took part in the attacks.
US President Barack Obama unveiled a strategy for defeating the IS on September 10. The plan includes forming an international coalition against the IS radical Sunni organization.
Obama's plan also includes authorizing US airstrikes against IS positions in Syria, while simultaneously continuing airstrikes in Iraq, which the United States authorized in August.
The IS has been fighting against the Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014 it started launching attacks in northern and western Iraq, declaring and Islamic caliphate on all the territories under its control and forcing thousands of people, mostly religious minorities, to flee.
