Written question asked by Bishop of Coventry (Bishops (affiliation)) on Monday, 2 October 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 October 2017. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 October 2017 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq: Military Intervention

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to evaluate the deployment of airpower in heavily populated areas following the liberation of Mosul.

Answer: UK airstrikes always follow the principles of international humanitarian law: necessity, proportionality, distinction between combatants and non-combatant civilians, and the prevention of unnecessary suffering. The complex and congested urban environment of Mosul presented particular challenges for those undertaking airstrikes as part of the Coalition support to forces on the ground against Daesh. Our rigorous targeting processes take into account the conditions on the ground, including the potential presence of a civilian population. We undertake a battle damage assessment after every airstrike. This assessment examines all the available records including video, and one of its roles is the identification of any collateral damage, including civilian casualties. If any such assessment indicated anything that should be scrutinised further, a full investigation would be undertaken, with appropriate resources allocated to it. Thus there is no requirement for a further evaluation of the deployment of UK airpower in the campaign against Daesh.

Secondary information