The fall of Aleppo has shown that decisions not to intervene militarily can have a terrible human cost. In 2013, Parliament voted not to use force against the dictator Asad which left him free to terrorise the Syrian people. But in 2014 when the Iraqi government appealed for support from the international community, with Daesh at the gates of Baghdad, Parliament answered that call.

Since then Britain has stepped up to take the fight to Daesh – both at home and abroad. In the last three years, our intelligence and security services have disrupted 12 plots in the UK – all either linked to or inspired by these terrorists. We’re also stepping up abroad, fulfilling our global role; out of the 68 members of the Coalition, only the United States is doing more than the UK to support Iraqi forces.

Today, in London, I am hosting the Iraqi Defence Minister and 13 other nations from the Counter-Daesh coalition who are providing military hardware and training. We’ve made major progress but in 2017 we must deal a decisive blow to these terrorists.