Summary

  • Sir John Chilcot's Iraq War inquiry report is published after seven years

  • Inquiry set up in June 2009 to look into run-up to US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq and its aftermath

Live Reporting

Jo Perry

  1. Former military intelligence officer unconvinced 'political class' have learned Iraq lessons

    Sir John Chilcot has called for more rigorous analysis before any military action is launched in future.

    His comments come ahead of the release of his report into the Iraq war, which killed tens of thousands of Iraqis and 179 UK service personnel.

    Former military intelligence officer Frank Ledwidge, who went into the country in 2003 to look for weapons of mass destruction, said politicians remained too willing to send troops into combat.

    Chinook helicopter drops gun in BasraAFP/Getty

    These things are still going on - we had Libya. There is a difference between lessons being learned and lessons being identified - which Chilcot will undoubtedly do. I think the medium level of the army, those people who were there - they've learned those lessons, they've assimilated them and probably understand the consequences. I'm not at all sure that the political class have adopted the same approach.

    Frank Ledwidge, Former military intelligence officer

  2. Iraq Inquiry: What is the Chilcot report and why does it matter?

    The official report into the UK's involvement in the 2003 Iraq War is being published after taking seven years to conclude. But what is it all about and why is it likely to be controversial? Read more.

    Soldiers in sihlouettePA