BOOTS on the ground is the only way to defeat ISIS, warned East Hampshire’s MP after the House of Commons voted in favour of stepping up military action in Syria.

After a ten hour parliamentary debate last Thursday, MP Damian Hinds was one of 397 MPs who voted yes to RAF jets being allowed to bomb ISIS targets in the war-torn country.

But while many observers questioned what effect the bombing raids would have on the situation, the district’s MP believes more direct action will eventually be needed to solve the crisis.

He said: “ISIS doesn’t recognise borders, and neither should we when dealing with them. Air strikes can achieve some things, like knocking out ISIS facilities and the oil assets from which it gets income.

“But ground forces will be necessary.”

However, the junior minister firmly believes it would be counter-productive to use UK or American troops.

There is political uncertainty about who will go head to head with ISIS. An estimated 70,000 fighters opposed to the regime of Syrian President Assad, have been suggested as allies.

The Conservative MP said: “There are people we can work with, and there are degrees to which we can work with them.

“We don‘t know them yet individually, but they (anti-regime groups) can clearly be worked with.”

He also says MPs of all parties had plenty of briefings before the debate. He said: “It was thoughtful, impassioned, and principled from both sides.

“There was a great weight of responsibility; making a decision about actions in which people will die is the biggest issue that can be decided and it was debated with the significant responsibility it deserved.”

Mr Hinds also says lessons had been learned by the UK and American governments from past conflicts such as Iraq. He added: “There is a sharp awareness that what happens next is perhaps even more important than what happens now.

“A peace process is ongoing, and post conflict planning is already happening.

“We understand the imperative to support the re-development of Syria, and a lot of work will be needed to rebuild the country.”