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| Iraq crisis: RAF Tornados 'could help aid effort' | Iraq crisis: RAF Tornados 'could help aid effort' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ministers and senior commanders are considering using RAF Tornado jets to assist the relief operation in Iraq, defence sources have told the BBC. | Ministers and senior commanders are considering using RAF Tornado jets to assist the relief operation in Iraq, defence sources have told the BBC. |
| It is understood the jets are being considered for use in a reconnaissance role to help transport planes deliver aid supplies - but not for air strikes. | It is understood the jets are being considered for use in a reconnaissance role to help transport planes deliver aid supplies - but not for air strikes. |
| On Sunday night an RAF air drop of food and water was abandoned owing to fears people could be injured by the cargo. | On Sunday night an RAF air drop of food and water was abandoned owing to fears people could be injured by the cargo. |
| The PM is resisting pressure to recall Parliament to consider a military role. | The PM is resisting pressure to recall Parliament to consider a military role. |
| David Cameron's spokeswoman said a recall was "not on the cards", while Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond ruled out a combat role for the UK amid growing calls for military involvement. | |
| Aid drops | Aid drops |
| The government is understood to be considering sending RAF Tornados, which are primarily used as bombers but can also be fitted with reconnaissance pods. | The government is understood to be considering sending RAF Tornados, which are primarily used as bombers but can also be fitted with reconnaissance pods. |
| BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said a defence source had told him that no decision had yet been made, but that if Tornados were deployed their role would be to help RAF transport planes drop aid and not for air strikes. | BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said a defence source had told him that no decision had yet been made, but that if Tornados were deployed their role would be to help RAF transport planes drop aid and not for air strikes. |
| Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, with continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups. | Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, with continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups. |
| Among those reportedly being targeted by fighters are Christians and Yazidis in the north of Iraq, where thousands of Yazidi civilians are trapped in the Sinjar mountains. | Among those reportedly being targeted by fighters are Christians and Yazidis in the north of Iraq, where thousands of Yazidi civilians are trapped in the Sinjar mountains. |
| The RAF has made one drop of aid to the area - but aborted a second over concerns for the safety of those on the ground. | The RAF has made one drop of aid to the area - but aborted a second over concerns for the safety of those on the ground. |
| The next aid drop is likely to be carried out within the next 24 hours. | The next aid drop is likely to be carried out within the next 24 hours. |
| 'No combat role' | 'No combat role' |
| The UK government has been facing growing calls to reconvene Parliament from politicians and senior members of the armed forces. | The UK government has been facing growing calls to reconvene Parliament from politicians and senior members of the armed forces. |
| Mr Hammond, who earlier chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee, said: "I don't think that's necessary at this time. We are talking about a humanitarian intervention. We have a very clear convention about consulting Parliament before British forces are committed into any kind of combat role. | Mr Hammond, who earlier chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee, said: "I don't think that's necessary at this time. We are talking about a humanitarian intervention. We have a very clear convention about consulting Parliament before British forces are committed into any kind of combat role. |
| "We are not talking about that here, we are simply talking about a humanitarian action, stepping up what we are doing in order to support this community trapped on the mountain." | "We are not talking about that here, we are simply talking about a humanitarian action, stepping up what we are doing in order to support this community trapped on the mountain." |
| He added: "We don't envisage a combat role at the present time." | He added: "We don't envisage a combat role at the present time." |
| Mr Cameron, who is on holiday in Portugal, remains "very much engaged" with decision-making on Iraq, his spokeswoman said. | |
| "Our focus is very much on the humanitarian effort at the moment. As such, recall is not on the cards," she said. | |
| The US has carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS fighters near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan - and there have been calls for Britain to participate in military action. | The US has carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS fighters near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan - and there have been calls for Britain to participate in military action. |
| Conservative MP Conor Burns, who has written to the speaker of the House of Commons asking him to recall Parliament to debate the issue, said he did not know whether MPs would support military action but it was "worth trying". | |
| "I feel very strongly that the government's response is not hard enough or strong enough," said the MP for Bournemouth West. | "I feel very strongly that the government's response is not hard enough or strong enough," said the MP for Bournemouth West. |
| "These people are being beheaded by people from IS, and our only response is to drop some food or water on them. | "These people are being beheaded by people from IS, and our only response is to drop some food or water on them. |
| "I think the US and UK should be involved in air strikes. I am not by any means advocating a ground war but I think we should put our special forces in there." | "I think the US and UK should be involved in air strikes. I am not by any means advocating a ground war but I think we should put our special forces in there." |
| Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: "I think Britain should be there with America - air strikes are absolutely correct." | |
| And Tory MPs Nick de Bois and David Burrowes have written to Mr Cameron urging a recall of MPs to discuss the crises in Iraq and Gaza. | |
| Ex-Army chief Lord Dannatt added his voice to the calls, saying it was "this is not the moment for decision-makers to be on holiday". | |
| He said UK troops might be needed on the ground to help support US military air strikes. | He said UK troops might be needed on the ground to help support US military air strikes. |
| Former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the government should "actively consider" whether to directly help those fighting the militants. | |
| Senior US officials have told the Associated Press the US has begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas who are fighting the militants. | Senior US officials have told the Associated Press the US has begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas who are fighting the militants. |
| Conservative MP Mr Burns said the UK should be "answering positively" requests from the Kurds to arm them, and that asylum should be offered in the UK. | Conservative MP Mr Burns said the UK should be "answering positively" requests from the Kurds to arm them, and that asylum should be offered in the UK. |
| Former British army commander Col Tim Collins said help should be sent in the form of training for resistance fighters to improve their tactics and provide security for communities under threat. | Former British army commander Col Tim Collins said help should be sent in the form of training for resistance fighters to improve their tactics and provide security for communities under threat. |
| Iraq's minorities | Iraq's minorities |
| Christians | Christians |
| Yazidis | Yazidis |