Politics

Helicopters and ships on standby to protect UK interests in Iraq 'if necessary'


The UK has placed helicopters and ships on standby in the Middle East to protect British interests “if necessary.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said the Government has taken “urgent measures” to protect British nationals and interests in the Gulf following the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike.

In a Commons statement Mr Wallace said UK forces in the region including helicopters and ships were on standby to assist if needed, while non-essential personnel had been relocated from Baghdad to Taji.

“As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance,” he told MPs.

Earlier, Number 10 said force protection measures for British troops in the region were kept under “constant review”.

“The safety and security of our personnel is of paramount importance. We keep our force protection measures under constant review,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.


Asked why Defence Secretary Ben Wallace rather than the Prime Minister would be making a statement on the situation in the Commons, the spokesman said: “The PM leads a Cabinet Government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective Cabinet response.

“The Prime Minister continues to speak to world leaders. He has overseen the ministerial response and will chair the National Security Council later today.”

He said Mr Johnson had briefed senior ministers on the situation in Iraq at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet.

“The Prime Minister set out the Government’s position on the importance of protecting British citizens and interests and de-escalating tensions,” he said.

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And the spokesman said they agreed Gen Soleimani had been responsible for “disruptive, destabilising behaviour in the region and posed a threat to all our interests”.

The spokesman said a more “substantial” discussion would take place at the National Security Council later on Tuesday.





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