Britain to Spend Extra $1.6 Billion to Monitor Global Terror Groups

Local Editor

British Prime Minister David Cameron revealed plans on Monday to supplement British special forces with an extra $1.6 billion to expand their surveillance and intelligence capabilities in order to monitor global terror groups.

Cameron has previously warned of a threat to the UK by militant groups operating in Iraq and Syria.

He told parliament he would "disagree with those people who think this is nothing to do with us," adding that an "extreme...regime in the middle of Iraq" would "affect us."

Cameron further said, "The people in that regime, as well as trying to take territory, are planning to attack...the UK..."

He added that this strategy should apply not just in Iraq, but in Syria, Somalia, Nigeria and Mali, otherwise "these problems will come back and hit us at home."

At the Farnborough Airshow this weekend, Cameron will emphasize the significance of drones and special forces when he unveils equipment, The Times reported.

An SAS team has already been dispatched to Baghdad following advances by the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" [ISIL].

Furthermore, a defense review is due next year, in which it is expected that Britain's intelligence-gathering and special forces capabilities will be bolstered at the expense of the regular army, navy and air force.

According to a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence, under Cameron's proposal an additional £800 million [$1.369 billion] will be devoted to surveillance, armed drones and other equipment, The Times reported.

It will allow special forces to continue using Shadow surveillance aircraft for undercover operations.

Additionally, an extra £300 million [$513 million] will be spent on new E-Scan radar for the Typhoon fighter plane, and the acquisition of the HMS Protector, an ice patrol ship.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team