{"id":46364,"date":"2014-08-13T16:36:00","date_gmt":"2014-08-13T16:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=f979c6ea119ee72c8c2927e2aeddb02e"},"modified":"2014-09-13T14:12:44","modified_gmt":"2014-09-13T14:12:44","slug":"news-story-iraq-uk-government-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=46364","title":{"rendered":"News story: Iraq: UK government response"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Updated:<\/em> Added new story<\/p>\n<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<p>The situation in Northern Iraq remains deeply worrying and we condemn the barbaric attacks waged by <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) terrorists across the region.   <\/p>\n<p>The United Nations has declared the situation in Northern Iraq as the highest level of humanitarian emergency as around 500,000 people are displaced in Dahuk province alone.<\/p>\n<p>We welcome the formation of Prime Minister al-Abadi\u2019s government and his commitment to creating a government that can unite Iraq. <\/p>\n<p>At the request of the Iraqi government, the UK has confirmed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-gifts-arms-and-ammunition-to-kurdish-regional-government\">supply of urgent military support<\/a> in the form of heavy machine guns and nearly half a million rounds of ammunition, giving the Kurdish Peshmerga additional firepower in order to help them defend the front line, protect civilians and push back <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> advances.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"contents\">Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"#overview\">Overview<\/a> <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#extremism\">Preventing extremism at home<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"#abroad\">Preventing extremism abroad<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#aid\">Overseas aid<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#military\">Military support<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#diplomacy\">Diplomacy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#news\">Government news and statements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"overview\">Overview<\/h2>\n<p>The UK government response in Iraq is focused on 3 objectives:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>alleviating the humanitarian suffering of those Iraqis targeted by <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> terrorists<\/li>\n<li>promoting an inclusive, sovereign and democratic Iraq that can push back on <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> advances and restore stability and security across the country<\/li>\n<li>working with the international community to tackle the broader threat that <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> poses to the region and other countries around the world, including the UK<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> speak for no religion and are not an invincible military force. At every level we have to challenge their messaging and their capability. We need a tough, intelligent, patient and comprehensive approach to defeat the terrorist threat at source using all the resources at our disposal\u2014our aid, diplomacy and military.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"extremism\">Preventing extremism at home<\/h2>\n<p>People seeking to travel to engage in terrorist activity in Syria or Iraq should be in no doubt we will take the strongest possible action to protect our national security, including prosecuting those who break the law. We also have a wide range of powers at our disposal to disrupt travel and manage the risk posed by returnees.<\/p>\n<p>We are redoubling these efforts to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>stop people going by taking away the passports of those contemplating travelling to take part in violence or extremism \u2013 the Home Office has seized 23 passports since we announced a stronger use of powers in April last year <\/li>\n<li>ensure police have the powers they need to arrest those suspected in terrorist activities overseas \u2013 69 people have been arrested in the first half of this year, compared to 25 in the whole of 2013<\/li>\n<li>take extremist material off the internet \u2013 since February 2010, the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) has taken down more than 47,000 pieces of unlawful terrorist-related content, over 28,000 of these since December<\/li>\n<li>continue to support a network of organisations who work with people we know are drifting into extremism and violence \u2013 they have offered the support of hundreds of people, making a very significant contribution to our national security<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A national campaign was launched by police in April to <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.met.police.uk\/Syria\/booklet.pdf\">warn of the dangers of travelling to Syria (pdf):<\/a> the message is the same for those considering travelling to Iraq or any other conflict zone.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"abroad\">Preventing extremism abroad<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"aid\">Overseas aid<\/h3>\n<p>The Department for International Development (DFID) is leading the UK\u2019s humanitarian response and getting life-saving aid to people across northern and central Iraq who have fled <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> terrorists. The UK is delivering \u00a323 million of aid, which includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a34 million for humanitarian supplies &#8211; this includes aid that was air dropped to help those trapped in the Sinjar Mountains, as well as supporting UN agencies to move food and equipment<\/li>\n<li>\u00a312.5 million of funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGO partners to support over 200,000 people over the coming 6 months &#8211; this funding will allow partners to provide basic life-saving assistance, including food, shelter, water, sanitation and medical care<\/li>\n<li>\u00a35 million given to UN partners and NGOs at the beginning of June to provide immediate life-saving assistance to 150,000 people<\/li>\n<li>a further \u00a31.5 million to strengthen the overall humanitarian response &#8211; DFID is supporting logistics and coordination mechanisms to enable Kurdish and UN systems to respond effectively to humanitarian needs in the region, as well as supporting the International Humanitarian Partnership to set up a camp for 20,000 displaced people near Dahuk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We are planning further aid deliveries to the region, with UK military assets remaining in the region to help with these efforts if needed. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"military\">Military support<\/h3>\n<p>The UK is providing non-lethal equipment directly to the Kurdish forces and helping to transport other vital equipment to assist the Peshmerga forces who are battling the insurgents. To date, the RAF has helped deliver:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>11 tonnes of equipment directly to Erbil in 2 C-130 Hercules aircraft &#8211; this consisted of 7.62mm ammunition provided by other nations, and helmets and sleeping bags provided by the UK<\/li>\n<li>a range of non-lethal support, to be gifted by the UK to Iraq, to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, including body armour and high calorie ration packs which will be transported on to the Kurdish forces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We support US military air strikes against <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> in Iraq, and will continue to support the Iraqis in their fight against the barbaric <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> terrorists. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"diplomacy\">Diplomacy<\/h3>\n<p>The UK co-sponsored the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council on 1 September, which highlights <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr>\u2019s abhorrent actions and commits to a team of experts going to Iraq to investigate these atrocities.<\/p>\n<p>Other activity includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall in his role as Government Security Envoy to the Kurdistan region of Iraq will support Kurdish and wider Iraqi efforts to counter <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr>, and work with Iraq\u2019s leaders as they establish a unity government  <\/li>\n<li>the UK led on the effort to secure a strong UN Security Council resolution to disrupt <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr>\u2019s financing flows; to sanction those who are seeking to recruit to <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> and to encourage countries to do all they can to prevent foreign fighters joining <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"news\">Government news and statements<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"september\">14 September<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pm-reaction-to-murder-of-aid-worker-david-haines\">PM reaction to murder of aid worker David Haines<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"september-1\">9 September<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-gifts-arms-and-ammunition-to-kurdish-regional-government\">UK gifts arms and ammunition to Kurdish regional government<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/foreign-secretary-congratulates-prime-minister-al-abadi-on-new-iraqi-government\">Foreign Secretary congratulates Prime Minister al-Abadi on new Iraqi government<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"september-2\">3 September<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/speeches\/pms-statement-to-parliament-on-opposition-to-isil-terrorism\">PM\u2019s statement to Parliament on opposition to <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> terrorism<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"september-3\">2 September<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pm-statement-following-murder-of-american-journalist-steven-sotloff\">PM statement following murder of American journalist Steven Sotloff<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august\">31 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/humanitarian-supplies-reach-amerli\">Humanitarian supplies reach Amerli<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-1\">29 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/speeches\/threat-level-from-international-terrorism-raised-pm-press-conference\">Threat level from international terrorism raised: PM statement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-2\">27 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-uk-aid-package-for-iraq-focuses-on-vulnerable-women-and-children\">New UK aid package for Iraq focuses on vulnerable women and children<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-3\">24 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-security-envoy-to-the-kurdistan-region-of-iraq-appointed\">Government Security Envoy to the Kurdistan region of Iraq appointed<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-4\">21 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/more-uk-aid-flights-into-erbil-deliver-food-and-essential-kit-for-aid-workers\">More UK aid flights into Erbil deliver food and essential kit for aid workers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-5\">20 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-delivers-tents-for-displaced-families-in-northern-iraq\">UK delivers tents for displaced families in northern Iraq<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/statement-on-james-foley\">Statement on James Foley<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/foreign-secretary-condemns-alleged-murder-of-james-foley\">Foreign Secretary condemns alleged murder of James Foley<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-6\">18 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cobr-meeting-on-iraq-18-august-2014\">COBR meeting on Iraq: 18 August 2014<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-7\">16 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-aid-arrives-for-displaced-iraqis-across-northern-iraq\">UK aid arrives for displaced Iraqis across northern Iraq<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/speeches\/our-approach-to-the-threat-posed-by-isil-article-by-david-cameron\">Our approach to the threat posed by <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr>: article by David Cameron<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/service-personnel-in-cyprus-assist-in-aid-air-drops\">Personnel in Cyprus assist in aid air drops<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-8\">15 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cobr-meeting-on-iraq-15-august-2014\">COBR meeting on Iraq: 15 August 2014<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/speeches\/today-this-council-has-shown-that-it-will-not-stand-idle-in-the-face-of-terrorism-and-violations-of-human-rights\">\u201cToday this Council has shown that it will not stand idle in the face of terrorism and violations of human rights\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/william-hague-condemns-sexual-violence-in-iraq\">William Hague condemns sexual violence in Iraq<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/foreign-secretary-calls-for-smooth-transition-of-power-in-iraq\">Foreign Secretary calls for smooth transition of power in Iraq<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-9\">14 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/british-aid-for-yazidi-refugees-fleeing-mount-sinjar\">British aid for Yazidi refugees fleeing Mount Sinjar<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-uk-aid-supplies-delivered-to-iraq\">New UK aid supplies delivered to Iraq<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cobr-meeting-on-iraq-14-august-2014\">COBR meeting on Iraq: 14 August 2014<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-10\">13 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-steps-up-aid-for-northern-iraq\">UK steps up aid for Northern Iraq<\/a> <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cobr-meeting-on-iraq-13-august-2014\">COBR meeting on Iraq: 13 August 2014<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pm-calls-with-president-erdogan-president-hollande-and-president-barzani\">PM calls with President Erdogan, President Hollande and President Barzani<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-11\">12 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cobr-meeting-on-iraq-12-august-2014\">COBR meeting on Iraq: 12 August 2014<\/a>  <\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/tornados-ready-to-support-humanitarian-operations\">Tornados ready to support humanitarian operations<\/a>  <\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/britain-steps-up-support-for-iraq\">Britain steps up support for Iraq<\/a>  <\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-aid-drops-continue-over-mount-sinjar-in-iraq\">UK aid drops continue over Mount Sinjar in Iraq<\/a>   <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-12\">11 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/foreign-secretary-welcomes-announcement-of-iraqi-pm-designate\">Foreign Secretary welcomes announcement of Iraqi PM Designate<\/a>   <\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cobr-meeting-on-the-latest-situation-in-iraq\">COBR meeting on the latest situation in Iraq<\/a>    <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-13\">10 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/cross-government-meeting-on-iraq-10-august-2014\">Cross-government meeting on Iraq &#8211; 10 August 2014<\/a>  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-14\">9 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/aircraft-carrying-uk-aid-on-their-way-to-help-iraqis\">Aircraft carrying UK aid on their way to help Iraqis<\/a>   <\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pm-call-with-president-obama--2\">PM call with President Obama<\/a>   <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-15\">8 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/emergency-uk-aid-for-displaced-people-in-iraq\">Emergency aid for displaced people in Iraq<\/a>   <\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pm-statement-on-iraq\">David Cameron statement on Iraq<\/a>    <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"august-16\">7 August<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/fco-minister-condemns-isil-brutality\">FCO Minister condemns <abbr title=\"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\">ISIL<\/abbr> brutality<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updates on the UK government response to the situation in Iraq. This page will be updated regularly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46364"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46364"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47612,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46364\/revisions\/47612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}