British generals excluded from Syria intervention meetings due to Commons vote
BRITISH military commanders are being excluded from meetings with US defence chiefs over strikes on Syria due to the Parliamentary vote against UK involvement, it emerged yesterday.
Senior Army officers based at the US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, have been left out of high-level intelligence briefings on the crisis.
Downing Street yesterday denied the move was a snub by the White House.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said British commanders had voluntarily withdrawn from planning meetings.
He added: “Since the UK will not be participating in any potential military action, clearly we won’t participate in planning for that.”
David Cameron ruled out a role for the Armed Forces in an American-led attack on Bashar Assad’s regime after MPs defeated a Government motion designed to pave the way for military strikes.
Some critics feared the move could damage Britain’s “special relationship” with the US. But a senior Pentagon source said: “It would be normal for a country that is no longer participating in an operation to cease to be involved in planning.
“I wouldn’t read to much into this.”