Iraq inquiry told of clashes over calls for British bombing raids

UK forces refused to launch bombing attacks on areas not properly checked during a major Iraqi army-led assault on militias in Basra.

Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki took British generals by surprise when he started the operation, called Charge of the Knights, earlier than expected in March 2008.

The UK military was criticised after US troops and Iraqi reinforcements had to be deployed south to save the situation when the first division of Iraqi soldiers sent in collapsed.

But Lieutenant General Barney White-Spunner, commander of coalition forces in south-east Iraq from February to August 2008, told the inquiry yesterday that British troops were held back by their rules of engagement from doing everything the Iraqis wanted.

He admitted the start of Charge of the Knights was "very worrying", as Iraqi soldiers sent into combat before completing their training struggled against the militias.

Lt Gen White-Spunner told the inquiry: "We were asked at times in those very chaotic early days to do some things by the Iraqis which if we had agreed to, I would be sitting in front of a very different tribunal now...

"We were invited to drop aerial ordnance on areas which we considered not to have been thoroughly enough vetted, and which could have caused considerable civilian casualties."

He added: "This is the first days, almost hours. But it did give rise to some people saying, 'oh, you weren't as co-operative as you could have been', but there were very good reasons."

The senior officer said the American military's rules of engagement were "slightly easier", allowing US forces to be more involved in the operation.

Despite coming close to collapse in its early days, Charge of the Knights led to a significant victory over insurgents in Basra and has been credited with improving security in the city.

Lt Gen White-Spunner told the inquiry the arrival of Iraqi army reinforcements was "absolutely crucial" and helped turn the tide against the insurgents.

"It was rapidly clear after an anxious start that this was going to be a major success," he said.

Lt Gen White-Spunner said Basra's Shia militias collapsed rapidly once Iraqis saw that the operation was being led by their own army.

And he admitted British training of police in Basra before the operation may have been too soft because it was based on the UK system.

The British commander said Basra was now "beginning to work".

The inquiry continues.