HL Deb 27 June 1986 vol 477 c580WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Israeli raid on Tunis and the American raid on Libya paved the way for the South African raids on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana and whether it is their view that in each case the raids were violations of the sovereignty of the nations whose territory was invaded from the air.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

No. The raids on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana were clear violations of sovereignty, as was the raid on Tunis. We condemned all four. The United States invoked the right of self-defence, recognised by Article 51 of the UN Charter, in their action against clearly defined targets in Libya related to terrorism.