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The fight against ISIL: the UK's role

11 September 2015

The Foreign Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into the Government's approach to the threat from ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as Islamic State, Da'esh or ISIS)* and the UK's role in an international response.

It would welcome written submissions which address in particular:

  • The extent to which ISIL is a threat to the region, to the international community (as a network or franchise), and to the UK and its interests
  • The position of the UK's partners on how to deal with the threat from ISIL, and  current coalition policy to address that threat, including:
    • The participation by the UK in US-led air strikes against ISIL in Iraq and the possible extension of air strikes into Syria; and the geographical reach and limitations of the UK's action against ISIL
    • The UK contribution to a coherent international policy toward ISIL, including at the United Nations
    • The extent to which there is understanding and agreement about what a ‘defeat' of ISIL would constitute
    • The implications of the ISIL threat for the UK's approach to the war in Syria and its approach to the governments in Damascus and Baghdad
    • The extent to which the UK's partners in the region (particularly Turkey and Saudi Arabia) share the UK's goals and strategy for defeating ISIL
    • The potential for involving Iran in the fight against ISIL
  • The challenges arising from the growth of ISIL, including displaced peoples;  inflaming sectarianism in the region; and the implications for non-violent Islamist movements
  • Options for confronting the ISIL ideology, and the need for political and governance solutions.

Closing date for receipt of submissions: Monday 2 November 2015.

Call for evidence

Written submissions should be submitted via the web portal on the Committee's The Fight against ISIL: the UK's role inquiry page

Form of written evidence

Submissions should be no longer than 3,000 words. The main body of any submission should use numbered paragraphs. Each submission should contain: 

  • a short summary, perhaps in bullet point form
  • a brief introduction about the person or organisation submitting evidence, for example explaining their area of expertise or experience
  • any factual information from which the Committee might be able to draw conclusions, or which could be put to other witnesses
  • any recommendations for action by the Government or others which the submitter would like the Committee to consider for inclusion in its report to the House

Submissions should be in malleable format such as MS Word (not PDFs) with no use of colour or logos.  

*While recognising that the terminology for the group is disputed, the Committee will adhere to the term used by the FCO.

Further information

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