Iraq asks UK for help to acquire deadly thermobaric bombs

The Guardian has reported that the Iraqi government is requesting the help of their UK counterparts to acquire deadly thermobaric bombs supposedly for use in Mosul, where the United Nations estimate around 1.5 million people live.

The request was reportedly put through to the British government on Monday, the Guardian revealed yesterday.

The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that defence minister Mike Penning met with Iraqi officials to discuss their request, telling them that the UK does not possess such weapons.

However, Iraqi officials were invited to submit their request to the 67-member international coalition against Daesh where, if approved, other nations may be able to supply the devastating munitions.

Iraq claims that it needs the weapon, sometimes called a “vacuum bomb”, in order to use them against Daesh tunnels in Mosul. The extremist organisation has been maintaining a fierce defence of Mosul, appearing behind Iraqi units suddenly through tunnels and other innovative ambush tactics.

Thermobaric munitions work by emitting an extremely powerful blast pressure wave that can crush soft-targets such as humans. The bombs also work by sucking the oxygen out of the blast area, hence the “vacuum” moniker.

For this reason, vacuum bombs are most effective in confined spaces, such as bunkers and underground tunnel networks, where protected infantry units become vulnerable to the weapon’s deadly effects.

However, Mosul is teeming with well over a million civilians who are stuck in the very same locations where Daesh militants are based. If the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) acquire large quantities of thermobaric munitions, it could lead to devastating civilian casualties.

It may also lead to war crimes being committed, as the use of such weapons in densely populated areas is a disproportionate use of force, particularly as there are only around 3,000 Daesh fighters in the city, compared to 100,000 ISF and allied forces.