Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that the only way to defeat Daesh (ISIL) is via “a proper ground war” against the terror network.
“There is no way of defeating these people without defeating them on the ground. Airstrikes are not going to defeat ISIS,” he said in a speech in central London on Tuesday.
The former Labour PM said an air campaign alone would not destroy the extremist group, calling for more Western troops on the battlefield.
“Do not be under any doubt at all. If we want to defeat these people we are going to have to wage a proper ground war against them.”
Blair admitted that he underestimated the forces of destabilization which would be unleashed following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“For sure we underestimated profoundly the forces that were at work in the region and would take advantage of change once you topple the regime,” he said. “That is the lesson.”
“To be honest my understanding of the…