British forces are getting sucked deeper into the Iraq war, Swindon peer Lord Stoddart has warned.
He said despite claims major combat operations had ended, the fighting was actually getting thicker.
And the peer cautioned planned military operations backed by the UK could break international laws.
He said: "This war in Iraq was declared officially over by President Bush more than a year ago, but it is certainly going on and it appears to be escalating."
His comments came after the government announced it would be deploying hundreds of Black Watch combat troops to a new trouble spot.
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