Written question asked by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Monday, 16 May 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 May 2011. It was answered by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Monday, 13 June 2011 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the involvement of Libyan nationals in military action against British forces in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in the last 10 years.

Answer: It is a matter of public record that Libyan nationals were involved in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Throughout the time of British military engagement the information available suggests that the relative ease of travel to Iraq in particular meant that Libyan nationals contributed to the foreign fighting contingent in the country. UK and international partners have worked together over the last 10 years to ensure that foreign fighters from Libya and elsewhere could not travel with ease to Iraq or Afghanistan to enter into military action against British forces.

Secondary information