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<p>Our policy on the disclosure of information regarding air strikes by Royal Air
Force aircraft engaged on Operation <em>Shader</em> in Iraq is that the detail of
each individual strike is carefully considered against the necessary constraint of
maintaining operational security, but our over-riding principle is to seek to place
information on each strike in the public domain in a prompt and timely manner.</p><p>
</p><p>This is consistent with, and a continuation of, Ministry of Defence practice
for any operational information. It reflects the necessity for the Armed Forces of
a democracy such as the UK not just to conduct military operations in a highly disciplined,
careful and proportionate manner within the rule of law, but to demonstrate transparency
and accountability for such activity. The need for this is all the more important
when the military operations are being conducted against a terrorist organisation
such as ISIL which wholly disregards the rule of law and relies on a perverted ideology
and deceitful propaganda. This policy has been followed ever since the start of air
strike operations in support of the Iraqi authorities, following the Parliamentary
vote on 26 September. The primary channel for publishing this information is the Government
website <a title="http://www.gov.uk/" href="http://www.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>,
and the information thus disclosed has been regularly reported in the British and
international media.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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