§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their latest evaluation of the contribution made by the continued bombing of Iraq to a long-term viable political solution. [HL3088]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalGovernment Ministers have made clear on many occasions that we are not conducting a bombing campaign against Iraq. Hostilities ended with the end of Operation Desert Fox in December 1998. We have no wish to see further confrontation.
Our aircraft continue to patrol the No Fly Zones over Iraq as they have done for the past nine years. Their presence stops Saddam Hussein from using his aircraft to attack his people, as he has done with such horrific consequences in the past. We are confident that our patrols stop Saddam from adding to his appalling human rights record.
49WAWhen threatened by Iraqi forces, our aircraft respond in self-defence. There would be no bombing if Iraq ceased its attacks on them.