Darragh O'Brien
Ceist:387. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recent events in Mosul; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16234/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 4 April 2017
Ceisteanna (387)
Freagraí scríofa
I deeply regret the deaths of all civilians in every military conflict.
I am conscious of multiple reports, including from civilians in Mosul, claiming that Daesh is deliberately using civilians as human shields.
I am also aware of the reports that airstrikes by the US-led counter-ISIS coalition have led to a significant number of civilian deaths in Mosul last month.
I would also note that the liberation of Mosul, from a terrorist group which a UN body has found responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, has been legally mandated by the UN Security Council under resolution 2249, which calls on UN Member States to "prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL" and "to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria".
Security operations taking place against Daesh inside Iraq are also conducted under the legal authority of the sovereign Government of Iraq.
However, international humanitarian law is clear: parties to the conflict, all parties, are obliged to do everything possible to protect civilians.
I understand that the details of what exactly happened in Western Mosul on 17 March are not yet entirely clear and I welcome US Central Command’s announcement of an investigation to establish the facts. It is our hope that the results of this investigation will help to prevent future loss of civilian life in Mosul and elsewhere as the Global Coalition and the Iraqi government work to rid the country of the scourge of ISIS.