To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 September to Question 207819 on Saudi Arabia, what roles British personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia are carrying out in support of the Saudi armed forces military operations in Yemen; what steps he has taken to ensure that such military operations are not in breech of international humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.
Answered on
21 July 2015
The UK provides routine teams of personnel to support Saudi Arabia, under existing government-to-government arrangements. None of these personnel are participating directly in Saudi military operations. We currently have:
11 personnel providing mentoring and advice to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, as part of the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
18 military and 19 civilian personnel working on the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project to acquire and support, modern communications capabilities for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
76 military and 42 civilian personnel working on the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects, supporting the United Kingdom's commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia through the supply of modern military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons and associated support services to the Saudi Armed Forces.
In addition to these personnel, we have also deployed a small number of liaison personnel in Saudi and coalition Air and Maritime Headquarters. This includes personnel in the Maritime Coalition Coordination Centre in Bahrain to help ease the flow of humanitarian aid into Yemen.
We have received assurances from the Saudis that they are complying with International Humanitarian Law and we continue to engage with them on those assurances.