Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the influence of foreign state-based actors upon militia groups in Iraq.

The UK is concerned by the activities of militia groups seeking to sow instability across Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. These militia groups undermine the rule of law and the Iraqi people's desire for peace. The Foreign Secretary visited Iraq 8-9 June and highlighted the need for greater accountability for human rights violations by militia groups with President Salih and Prime Minister Kadhimi. He also emphasised to Prime Minister Kadhimi and the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, President Nechirvan Barzani, UK support for their efforts to tackle armed groups and militias agitating for escalation.