Summary
- Tuesday 28 April – Typhoons struck a number of caves in
northern Iraq where Daesh terrorists were based.
Detail
The Royal Air Force continues to fly daily armed
reconnaissance missions over Iraq and eastern Syria as part
of the global coalition against the Daesh terrorist
movement.
On the night of Tuesday 28 April, a pair of Typhoons,
operating out of RAFAkrotiri and supported by a
Voyager aerial refuelling tanker, joined other coalition
aircraft in an attack on a series of caves north-east of
Bayji in northern Iraq.
The Typhoons targeted six cave entrances where intelligence
had confirmed a group of Daesh terrorists were based.
Following a thorough check of the surrounding area for any
signs of non-combatants, the aircraft used Paveway IV
precision-guided bombs to strike all six of the caves.
Surveillance confirmed all the weapons struck their targets
successfully, removing more Daesh fighters from the
battlefield and further downgrading the terrorist movement.
Defence Secretary said:
The strikes continue because the Daesh threat is
relentless and so will we be.
Previous update
The Royal Air Force continues to fly daily armed
reconnaissance missions over Iraq and eastern Syria as part
of the global coalition against the Daesh terrorist
movement.
On Friday 10 April, one such patrol conducted air strikes
in support of a counter-terrorism operation in northern
Iraq.
The pair of Typhoons, assisted by an RAF Reaper aircraft,
identified Daesh terrorists occupying a group of fortified
buildings in an isolated location west of Tuz Khurma, known
to be inhabited by active terrorist commanders and
fighters.
The aircraft conducted a thorough check of the area for
non-combatants, before using a combination of precision
guided bombs to destroy the buildings.
The surveillance aircraft continued to scan the area,
confirming that all weapons had struck their targets and
there was no collateral damage. Subsequent intelligence
indicated that it was a successful operation, removing
several Daesh fighters from the battlefield and further
degrading the terrorist movement.
Defence Secretary said:
Britain’s adversaries have not let Covid-19 stop them
posing a risk to our citizens and allies. It is for that
reason that Defence continues to take whatever steps are
necessary – at home and abroad – to keep the nation safe.
The use of RAF jets and a Reaper
aircraft to deliver a successful strike against Daesh
terrorists and their hide out demonstrates that the UK’s
Defence never sleeps and will always do what is necessary
to protect our people.
For more information see Daesh: UK government
response page on GOV.UK
