Looking for a way to end the conflict, MEPs analysed and debated the worsening situation in Syria.

How to counter Islamic State?

The Syrian conflict  and its spillover into Iraq

have again taken centre stage  in the European Parliament.

In more than three years  about 200,000 people have been killed

and 6.5 million people  driven from their homes,

with the arrival of the fighters of the  so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

This so-called Islamic State  has to be smashed militarily,

but there is also a need for political action.

At the moment the Kurds of Kobane  are strongly demanding immediate help.

that allows refugees to leave for Turkey

but that also allows fighters  to enter their territory.

EP’s Human Rights Sub-Committee met to  discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation,

and for many deputies the military option  is the only course of action

despite fresh memories  of the West’s intervention in Iraq.

Military action is needed  to preserve the civil population.

If nothing is done today, the evil will grow.

that can fight and stop  these barbaric fighters.

I'm not sure external military actions  help matters.

That's why I gave the example  of what happened in Iraq,

where there was an external intervention.

When the US forces, which were the  main intervention force, were withdrawn,

It's rather through helping  the democrats and progressives

fighting in the country  on a day-to-day basis,

that we might be able  to move things forward.

Some MEPs also raised  the role of Turkey in this situation

and called for Ankara to intervene militarily

to save civilians threatened by  the Islamic State on their border.