Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the (a) death toll and (b) casualty rate of Turkey’s military action in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Operation Claw Lock; what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the compatibility of that operation with international law; whether the Government opposes that operation; and what representations she has made to the Turkish government on that operation.

We are following closely the situation in northern Iraq, including monitoring Turkey's Operation Claw Lock. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers and senior officials regularly reiterate to all parties the need for dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians. Our diplomatic missions are in regular contact with Turkish and Iraqi authorities over these issues and continue to urge restraint and the protection of civilians.