Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Operation Shader

Monday 20 May 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK takes the threat posed by Iran very seriously, noting its destabilizing influence in the Middle East through proxies.
  • Operation Shader, originally established in 2014 to counter the Islamic State, continues to be seen as a positive and important regional deterrent.
  • The UK's armed forces, through Operation Shader, focus on supporting Iraq's government security development, primarily addressing the Daesh threat.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the adequacy of military resources allocated by the UK to deter Iranian attacks through Operation Shader.

Question

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of military resources allocated by the UK to help deter Iranian attacks. I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Clearly, the brave resistance fighters in Iran will be celebrating the demise of the Butcher of Tehran today. Iran controls Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations. Given the attack by Iran on Israel, what further assessment has my hon. Friend made of the potential for Iran to launch another attack?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We take the threat Iran poses very seriously. We note that it uses its malign influence to continue to destabilise the middle east through its pernicious use of proxies. Our judgment is that that capability and intent remains. Our role in deterrence regionally is hugely important.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assessment or details about potential for Iran to launch another attack

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Q2 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Defence Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The Liberal Democrats support the use of Royal Air Force to help intercept Iranian bombardment of Israel, but are concerned about lack of parliamentary oversight for operations designed to deter Iranian attacks.

Question

As the Minister has said, Operation Shader was originally put together in 2014 to defeat the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Liberal Democrats are very supportive of the way in which the Royal Air Force was used last month to help to intercept the Iranian bombardment of Israel, but the last parliamentary vote on Operation Shader was held in 2014, when Members were approving resources and deployments of UK armed forces to defeat ISIL. Will the Minister subject any operation that is designed to deter Iranian attacks to a debate and a vote?

Answer from Leo Docherty

It seems to me to be the settled view that Operation Shader is a good thing, and I do not sense any appetite for a parliamentary debate among colleagues across the Benches in this House.

Not addressed: Did not commit to holding a debate or vote on operations designed to deter Iranian attacks

How: Did Not Address Specific Ask

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Q3 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Defence
Context

The MP is concerned about the adequacy of military resources allocated by the UK to support Iraqi Government security in terms of deterring Iranian attacks through Operation Shader.

Question

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of military resources allocated by the UK to help deter Iranian attacks.

Answer from Leo Docherty

Our armed forces, through Operation Shader, which is focused really on the Daesh threat in Iraq, continue to support the development of the Iraqi Government in terms of their security.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assessment or details about adequacy of resources allocated for deterring Iranian attacks

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