The UK trained an air force at the centre of war crime allegations in Yemen how to carry out airstrikes with smart bombs.

Evidence submitted during a legal case into UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia reveals the RAF trained the country’s air force how to use Paveway IV missiles.

The documents also reveal that only a “very, very small” number of airstrikes were tracked and the UK knew little about the Saudis’ targeting practices.

Despite being kept in the dark over airstrikes, the UK Government claimed last year that no war crimes had been committed by the Saudis.

Laser-guided systems for Paveway IV smart bombs are made at a factory in Fife, owned by US arms giant Raytheon.

A coalition of Arab nations led by the Saudis, fighting Houthis in Yemen, have been accused of more than 200 breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL).

Allegations include bombing raids on hospitals and schools, which have killed hundreds of innocent people.

The coalition maintain that they do not deliberately target civilians.

Paveway IV

As a result of mounting claims of war crimes, a legal challenge was raised against the UK Government by Campaign Against Arms Trade. During the case, Peter Watkins, director general of security policy at the Ministry of Defence, revealed the UK trained the Saudis in Britain and in Saudi Arabia.

He said: “In the context of their air operations, this has included training them in the use of specific precision-guided munitions, such as Paveway IV and Storm Shadow, and aircraft.”

Last month, the UN said there had been 119 breaches of IHL. The latest atrocity came when a funeral was bombed a few days ago near Sanaa, killing 10 people.

In February 2016, the Foreign Office said ministers had assessed that Saudi Arabia was not in breach of IHL in Yemen.

Andrew Smith, of Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: “We are always hearing about the precautions Saudi forces are supposedly taking but, if that’s the case, why are they bombing schools and hospitals?”

SNP MP Douglas Chapman said: “I’ve been involved in the parliamentary process for monitoring arms sales to Saudi and my support for a ban – until a review – has always been clear.”

The UK Government said: “We keep our defence exports to Saudi Arabia under careful and continual review.”

Raytheon and the Saudi embassy in London declined to comment.