HL Deb 18 June 1986 vol 476 cc1024-6WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give a full explanation of their belief that the United States military action against Libya was in accordance with international law and particularly the "inherent right of self defence" as recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Baroness Young

Under customary international law, states enjoy—and enjoyed long before the United Nations Charter—the right of self-defence which is expressly recognised and preserved by Article 51 of the Charter. In the light of all the circumstances and the available evidence, the action taken by the United States Government against terrorist-related targets in Libya was a lawful exercise of this inherent right of self-defence.