Written question asked by Lord Maples (Conservative) on Monday, 5 July 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 July 1999. It was answered by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Labour) on Monday, 12 July 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sorties have been undertaken by British aircraft over Iraq since 1st January. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties have been undertaken by British aircraft over Iraq since 1 January. [90142] Mr. George Robertson: RAF aircraft undertook some 1,600 operational sorties in the period 1 January to 30 June 1999 in pursuit of their mission to prevent Saddam's air forces from persecuting the Kurds and Shia Muslims of northern and southern Iraq. The figure includes sorties by aircraft such as VC10 tankers which, although directly involved in this mission, did not enter Iraqi airspace.

Secondary information