UK set to vote on possible airstrikes against ISIL in Syria

The United Kingdom's Parliament will vote Wednesday on whether to join other Western powers in bombing the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria.

The vote will come one day after the German Cabinet approved plans to commit up to 1,200 soldiers in support of the international coalition fighting against the armed group and the U.S. announced that it would expand its special operations forces in the region. 

British Prime Minister David Cameron is confident he can secure approval for the strikes after the leader of the opposition Labour Party allowed its members to vote freely on the issue. Cameron said Britain could not “subcontract” its security to others after ISIL claimed responsibility for killing 130 people in Paris this month.

Earlier, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is opposed to the action, told MPs he would allow a so-called "free vote" — breaking with a tradition for leaders to instruct MPs on how to vote on major decisions to quell a growing rebellion in his party, and making it more likely that Britain will join the air campaign. 

The 54 members of Parliament from the Scottish National Party will vote against the measure, according to the party's leader, Nicola Sturgeon. 

Meanwhile, the German Cabinet on Tuesday approved plans to commit hundreds of soldiers to support the international coalition fighting against ISIL. 

The mandate still requires parliamentary clearance. Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition has a huge majority and approval looks assured in a vote that, according to senior lawmakers from her conservative bloc, is likely on Friday.

Following the Paris attacks, Merkel agreed to honor a request from France to provide support for its operations against ISIL in Syria. Germany plans to send Tornado reconnaissance and tanker aircraft to the region, as well as a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean, but won't actively engage in combat.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the daily Bild that he doesn't expect Germany to have 1,200 soldiers participating at any one time. He said that figure is an upper limit which, as is customary with military mandates, includes a significant “safety buffer.”

“We are doing what is militarily needed, what we can do best and can accept politically,” he said.

Also on Tuesday, the U.S. said it was expanding its special operations force in Iraq and Syria to help fight ISIL, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said.

The additional troops will help Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Carter told the House Armed Services Committee that over time, these special operators will be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture ISIL leaders. Carter said that will improve intelligence and generate more targets for attacks.

Carter did not offer troop numbers amid a growing call from some Republicans for more U.S. ground forces and a divide among war-weary Americans about the prospect of greater military involvement. He said the number in the expeditionary force will be "larger" than 50 but would not be more specific and didn't say exactly where they would be based.

“The raids in Iraq will be done at the invitation of the Iraqi government and focused on defending its borders and building the Iraqi security force's own capacity,” Carter said. “This force will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations into Syria.”

There currently are about 3,500 U.S. troops in Iraq, and President Barack Obama had previously announced he was sending fewer than 50 special operations forces to Syria.

Wire services