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Operation Desert Fox
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, as reported in the International Herald Tribune on 22 December 1998, the United States and British air strikes demolished Iraq's "two main factories for producing parts for short-range missiles permitted by the United Nations"; if so, whether these demolitions were intended; and, if so, on what grounds they were justified.[HL996]
Lord Gilbert: The objective of Operation Desert Fox was to reduce substantially Saddam's ability to threaten his neighbours, in particular by degrading his weapons of mass destruction capability, including control and delivery systems, and his wider military capability.
Coalition aircraft attacked and severely damaged research and production facilities associated with the development of Iraqi ballistic missile systems. In addition, we attacked facilities associated with air defence missile systems to degrade Saddam's ability to threaten Coalition aircraft.Iraq
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether British forces are giving military training to Iraq forces to topple the Iraqi Government, as alleged in the Sunday Times of 24 January; and, if so, whether this is compatible with the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998.[HL997]
Lord Gilbert: There is no truth to the allegation that British forces are engaged in training Iraqi opposition forces to topple the current Iraqi Government.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether current United States and British military activity in and over Iraq remains "humanitarian" as recently stated by the Secretary of State for Defence, or is in aid of the policies as stated by the United States administration.[HL1000]
Lord Gilbert: Our patrols of the Northern and Southern No-Fly-Zones in Iraq are an essential humanitarian task in support of UNSCR 688. They prevent Saddam from using his air force against Iraqi citizens in the north and south and monitoring the actions of his forces on the ground. The patrols also provide reassurance to Saddam's neighbours. This is consistent with US policy.
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