Urgent question on the security situation in Syria

On Sunday 23 February, it was reported that Israeli jets launched airstrikes against Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip and Syria, killing two militants, in retaliation for several barrages of rocket attacks fired by the group into Israel. According to the Israeli military the violence erupted after an Islamic Jihad militant was shot dead whilst attempting to plant a bomb at the fence that separates Gaza and Israel.

James Cleverly MP : "deeply concerned by this crisis in north-west Syria"

Responding on behalf of the Government, James Cleverly, Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) said that the Government is deeply concerned by the crisis in north-west Syria where the situation on the ground is deteriorating. Over 900,000 people have been displaced fleeing the regime and Russian bombardments.

The Minister told MPs:

"We have repeatedly pressed for an immediate, genuine and lasting ceasefire, including at the UN Security Council. We have called a number of emergency council sessions on Idlib in New York, most recently on the 6 February alongside the P3 (the governments of the UK, France and the USA), where the UK Ambassador to the UN reiterated our clear call for a ceasefire and our support for Turkey's efforts in this region […]we regret very much that the Russians continue to obstruct the possibility of agreement."

Tobias Ellwood MP: "the West has taken a strategic back seat"  

Responding to the Minister, Tobias Ellwood MP told the House that for almost a decade we have seen the terrible events unfold in Syria, and that "since August 2013, the West has taken a strategic back seat."

The Member told the House:

"As we saw in the reports on Sky News over the weekend, Assad continues to his advance, deliberately bombing hospitals and also causing infants to freeze in the cold winter. Yet again attempts by the UN Security Council to secure a ceasefire are vetoed by Russia, so the prospect of a blood bath grows higher as does direct conflict between Turkey and Syria. The words come again from the West, but we continue to watch on. "

 Mr Ellwood proceeded to ask the Minister:

"Given the UK's P5 status (UN Nations Security Council's five permanent members), what is our role? Has Turkey, a NATO ally, requested any support? Indeed has any been offered, for example introducing a no-fly zone to prevent those helicopters from dropping those barrel bombs?"

• Watch Parliament TV: Urgent Question on security situation in Syria.
• Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.

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