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Cameron risks split with US on airstrikes

Britain has reacted warily to pleas from the United States to join a “coalition of the willing” in launching airstrikes against Islamic State in northern Syria.

President Obama is desperate to establish whether western allies, such as Britain and Australia, and Gulf states will agree to bomb the area of Syria to which the jihadists retreat after attacks in neighbouring Iraq.

The government is reluctant, however, to be drawn deeper into a campaign that already involves British warplanes conducting surveillance flights over Iraq in support of US bombing raids, sources say.

British caution over military action in Syria is in contrast to American bullishness and is likely to make for tense meetings between David Cameron and President Obama at a Nato summit in Wales next