HC Deb 18 March 1999 vol 327 cc810-1W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategy underlying the current bombing of Iraq. [77357]

Mr. George Robertson

The Government's aim in enforcing the no-fly zones is to continue the essential humanitarian task of preventing Saddam Hussein from using his airforce to repress his own people. In undertaking this mission, we have made it clear that we will take robust but appropriate defensive measures in response to any attempts by Iraq to threaten our aircrew. Current military action is purely in self-defence, and taken in response to threats to the coalition. Since the end of Operation Desert Fox, over 160 Iraqi aircraft have violated the no-fly zones and coalition aircraft have been shot at or threatened over 70 times.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Paveway III laser-guided bombs and Harm anti-radar missiles have been dropped on Iraq since Desert Fox. [77329]

Mr. George Robertson

Since Operation Desert Fox, military action by coalition aircraft has been taken only in self-defence in response to Iraqi attempts to shoot down or otherwise threaten our aircraft. RAF Tornados have dropped two Paveway III bombs and fired no High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) on Iraq since Operation Desert Fox.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he did not seek UN approval for changing the rules of engagement on bombings of Iraq. [77259]

Mr. George Robertson

UK forces patrolling the no-fly zones in support of UN Resolution 688 are not under UN command. Their Rules of Engagement are therefore an entirely national matter.