Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK assets in Bahrain have assisted (a) UK and (b) US airstrikes in Yemen since 11 January 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
No.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Royal Air Force has engaged in military action in Yemen in each of the last 10 years; and for what reasons it has done so.
Answered by James Heappey
The Royal Air Force has engaged in military action in Yemen on two occasions since January 2014. On 11 and 22 January 2024, the Royal Air Force took action alongside allies and partners to degrade Houthi military capabilities linked to attacks on global shipping.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any UK assets in Oman have assisted (a) UK and (b) US airstrikes in Yemen since 11 January 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
No UK military assets in Oman have assisted either UK or US airstrikes on Yemen since 11 January 2024.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he made of the imminence of an attack from Abbs airfield on UK flagged vessels on 11 January 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
The two locations struck by the Royal Air Force on 11 January, a base at Bani and the airfield at Abbs, were both targeted because of their proven use by the Houthis as bases from which drones and cruise missiles had been launched over the Red Sea. This was part of a wider set of strikes conducted in concert with the US all intended to counter the very real threat demonstrably and repeatedly posed to shipping in the Red Sea. In each case, specific buildings associated with the drone and missile operations were successfully targeted. At Abbs, a cruise missile launcher caught in the open was also destroyed by our aircraft.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Diamond was in Yemen's territorial waters when it destroyed Houthi drones on 10 January 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
On 10 January 2024, HMS DIAMOND was in international waters when she took defensive action to protect herself and commercial shipping from Houthi drone strikes.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Diamond has entered Yemen's territorial waters during Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Answered by James Heappey
No. HMS DIAMOND has not entered Yemeni territorial waters while tasked to Op PROSPERITY GUARDIAN.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he made of the number of civilians living around Abbs airfield in Yemen before ordering airstrikes on that location.
Answered by James Heappey
As my right hon. friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House on 15 January (Column 577), particular care was taken to minimise any risk of civilian casualties in planning these strikes. To that end, a full and thorough analysis was undertaken prior to approval of the targets and any such risk was further mitigated by the decision to conduct the strikes at night. To date, we have seen no evidence to indicate that either of the RAF strikes, at Bani and Abbs, caused civilian casualties.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department made of the extent of likely collateral damage from airstrikes in Yemen on 11 January 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
As my right hon. friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House on 15 January (Column 577), particular care was taken to minimise any risk of civilian casualties in planning these strikes. To that end, a full and thorough analysis was undertaken prior to approval of the targets and any such risk was further mitigated by the decision to conduct the strikes at night. To date, we have seen no evidence to indicate that either of the RAF strikes, at Bani and Abbs, caused civilian casualties.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2023 to Question 3983 on RAF Akrotiri, if he will list the branches of the military that personnel on the flights in question belonged.
Answered by James Heappey
These flights carried a mix of personnel from across the Armed Forces to enable the assisted departure of British Nationals from Israel, the continued movement of materials required to sustain our diplomatic mission to Tel Aviv; and the transportation of Ministers and senior officials conducting diplomatic engagements with Israeli interlocutors. We will not comment on individual movements.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2023 to Question 5097 on Kevin McCool, what Major Kevin McCool's role was at the British High Commission in Nairobi.
Answered by James Heappey
Major Kevin McCool was posted to the British High Commission as a regional military advisor.