§ 20. Mr. MerchantTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on RAF deployment to Operations Southern Watch and Provide Comfort. [26938]
§ Mr. SoamesThe RAF contributes six Tornado GR1 and one VC 10 tanker aircraft to each operation. The Tornados operate in the tactical reconnaissance role.
Both operations monitor Iraqi activity on the ground in support of UN Security Council resolution 688, which calls on Iraq to cease the repression of its civilian population.