Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to reports that British military experts are assisting Saudi Arabia with targeting locations for air strikes in Yemen, said:
“The
Government needs urgently to explain its involvement with Saudi military
operations in Yemen, in particular the extent to which UK military personnel
are involved in advising on the targeting of air strikes and how that advice is
being used.
"Given that human rights organisations have alleged that the Saudis and other members of the Gulf coalition are
committing violations of the laws of war in Yemen, including the use of cluster
bombs in residential areas, the Government needs to investigate
these allegations and satisfy itself that it is not exposing the UK or UK
military personnel to any liability under international law.”
Ends
Editors notes
- In December 2015, Labour called for the Government to launch an immediate review of arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia.