Jeremy Corbyn has said he is "not happy" with police employing a "shoot-to-kill" policy in the event of a Paris-style terror attack on Britain's streets.
The Labour leader claimed the strategy could "often be counter-productive" and called for a diplomatic effort to end the political fragmentation of Syria, rather than a military-led one.
He also declined to answer the so-called "hypothetical question" posed to him of whether his party would ever back an armed intervention against extremists, in light of tensions escalated by the French in response to Friday's tragedy
"I'm not saying I would or I wouldn't," he told BBC News on Monday.
In a separate interview, the Labour leader indicated he would not allow his party's MPs to defy him by voting in favour of expanding Britain's military strikes against Isis.
After Friday's terrorist attacks, France launched bombing raids against so-called Islamic State in it its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- 129 dead in co-ordinated shootings and bombings
- Seven attackers killed with eight suspect on the run
- France bombs Islamic State capital after terror group claims responsibility
- Major police operation in Brussels in pursuit of further suspects
- Brother of suicide attacker released without charge
David Cameron has said he would like the RAF to join the United States and Francois Hollande's government in bombing Isis in Syria but will need to win a vote in parliament first.
Corbyn has been opposed to a wider military campaign and said this morning the French strikes would "probably not" make a difference.
However several Labour MPs have already said they planned to vote with the government if the Prime Minister did ask MPs. In order to do so without formally defying Corbyn, the Labour leader would need to designate it a free vote.
He told Sky News this afternoon he was unlikely to grant his MPs that freedom. "I don't think a free vote is something we are offering," he told the broadcaster's Kay Burley.