BASILDON and Billericay MP John Baron has called on the Government not to act hastily in the fight against Islamic State extremists.

The former soldier has cautioned against mission creep into Syria, where IS fighters control a third of the country.

He also warned any attempt by the UK to join with Syrian President Bashar-al Assad to defeat IS would be a mistake.

Mr Baron’s warning came as the Government considered its response to the threat posed by IS amid speculation Prime Minister David Cameron will soon announce military strikes against the extremists together with allies, most likely on IS strongholds in northern Iraq and Syria.

Mr Baron, who served with the the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from 1984 until 1988, said: “If Parliament agrees to military action in Iraq, we must guard against mission creep. Any action against IS must be at the invitation of the Iraqi Government and be clearly defined. Past errors must not be repeated.

“I caution against strikes on IS targets in Syria. Without the approval of the Assad government, we would be on uncertain legal ground. Meanwhile, Syria’s air defences are robust.

The downing of a British jet could lead us down a dangerous path.

“Air strikes alone are unlikely to defeat this well-organised guerrilla army. Ground troops are required, but these must be local forces. The symbolism of the West alone defeating this Caliphate would be extremely negative. The elephant in the room is the Iraqi Army, numbering over 250,000. Our allies in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, should also be prepared to play their part.”

The Conservative MP has been critical of UK military interventions over the last decade and even resigned from the shadow front bench over the Iraq War in 2003.

He was the only Tory MP to vote against Afghan policy when the mission morphed from defeating al-Qaeda into nation-building. He was also prominent in opposing Syrian intervention.

He added: “We should not cooperate with Assad against IS.

My enemy’s enemy is not always my friend, as we have found to our cost with our support for the Mujahedeen in the Eighties.

“The longer-term solution has to be political. Soldiers only buy time. The new leadership must succeed in pursuing inclusive policies if Iraq is to remain a single entity.”