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Islamic State: Military Intervention

Question for Ministry of Defence

UIN HL2950, tabled on 2 November 2016

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that future air strike missions against land targets in Syria or Iraq, in which RAF aircraft are involved, have had their targets independently verified and approved in advance by British military personnel.

Answered on

9 November 2016

RAF strikes are approved through a strict assessment process undertaken by British military, policy and legal advisers. All the available information is considered in accordance with strict targeting criteria to ensure compliance with UK and international laws and UK Rules of Engagement. The authorisation to conduct a strike is only given when this process is complete and the conditions for the release of weapons are met.