Wisely chosen targets

Britain took its time before joining the US-led bombing campaign in Syria, but once the British parliament voted, 397 to 223 in favour of the British involvement, the air strikes conducted by British warplanes were wisely chosen.

For three days running, British Tornado and Typhoon warplanes hit oil fields under Daesh control.

To London’s credit, unlike other bombing campaigns, especially those conducted by Russian warplanes, the British planes carefully avoided civilian areas, avoided targets that could have inflicted heavy casualties among the Syrian population.

It is a most commendable political and military decision.

That does not mean that bombing oil wells in Syria is of a marginal military importance. Far from it. 

Oil fields under Daesh command are vital to supplying the terrorist organisation with the necessary funding that enables it to continue its brutal violence across the region and to keep control of vast territories in both Syria and Iraq.

Other countries taking part in the bombing campaign against Daesh need be equally prudent and selective of their targets to avoid civilian casualties at all cost.

Killing innocent people does not help win the war against Daesh. If anything, it may radicalise citizens who normally have no sympathy for Daesh and its ideology.

Syrians have already suffered immense losses, caught in the crossfire of government and scores of militias fighting for supremacy.

Their suffering should not be compounded by more destruction falling from the skies patrolled by one coalition or another.

It is now estimated that about 300,000 Syrians were killed over the past five years of warfare.

It is hard to establish a new political order in the country on the ashes left by deaths and destruction.

Countries that are trying to save Syria from becoming a failed state would be only adding to the devastation through indiscriminate bombing.