Islamic State: Syrian air strikes could be legal, claims former Attorney General Dominic Grieve

Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General, has said that UK air strikes against Isis targets in Syria would be legal.

He backed David Cameron’s view that military action in Syria would not breach international law even if the Assad regime did not request it. He brushed aside legal doubts raised by some Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians and a in a briefing paper to MPs by officials in the House of Commons Library.

Mr Grieve told the BBC: “If the correct grounds are there because of humanitarian necessity and the steps that are being taken are reasonable, necessary and proportionate to address that, it can be justified under customary international law.” He conceded that this concept “is challenged in some countries” but said the UK always maintained it exists.

The former Minister, who was sacked by Mr Cameron in July, said cooperation with the Syrian regime would be “impossible” given its behaviour towards its own people.

“Normally if one was to take military action in a country one would normally do it in support of that country's government. The problem with the Syrian regime is that its behaviour towards its own citizens has been so bad,” said Mr Grieve. “Also, it is quite clear that its writ doesn’t run throughout the country. I think what the Prime Minister was saying [is] that this was a regime with which we could not under any circumstances do business.”

Last week, Downing Street overruled Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, when he said action would not be taken in Syria. But it is unclear whether a majority of MPs would support UK such action.