Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 6 April 2001. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Friday, 6 April 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the most recent bombing of Iraq by the UK and USA.

Answer: Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons for the most recent bombing of Iraq by the UK and USA. [157414] Mr. Hoon: Coalition aircraft carrying out legitimate patrols of the Iraqi no fly zones are authorised to respond in self-defence to Iraqi efforts to shoot them down. This is the only basis on which weapons have been released over Iraq since Operation Desert Fox in December 1998.

Secondary information