RAF Tornado jets begin airstrikes against IS in Iraq

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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British Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado jets have begun airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq on Tuesday as they bombed an artillery post and an armed truck as targets for the first time in a U.S. led air campaign.

The attacks were carried out after the fighters flew their sixth sortie since U.K. Parliament authorised country’s involvement in the international military campaign last week to become one the 40 countries joining the U.S. led mission against the IS forces which are currently controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.

Ministry of Defence has told that two fighter jets hit the post with a Brimstone missile used against tanks and the vehicle with a 500-pound (230 kilogramme) Paveway IV laser-guided bomb to aid Kurdish troops in the area.

In a tweet MoD have stated the both bombs successfully hit the targets.

In another tweet, they have said: “Tornado jets have carried out first air strikes in support of democratic Iraqi government.”

After the successful execution of mission, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has stated: “I can confirm that the RAF were in action today in support of the Iraqi government in north west Iraq.

“Two GR4 Tornados from RAF Akrotiri were tasked to assist Kurdish troops who were under attack by Isil terrorists.

“They identified and attacked a heavy weapon position that was endangering Kurdish forces and they subsequently attacked an Isil armed pickup truck in the same area.

“Both Tornados have now returned safely to their base, and initial assessment is that both attacks were successful.”

Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has insisted that U.K. forces would not be “panicked” into dropping bombs in Iraq.

Mr Hammond has said: “When we do release our weapons we have to be absolutely sure that they are against Isil (IS) targets, that they are not going to kill innocent Sunni Muslim civilians in areas that are occupied by Isil.

“Otherwise we are having the opposite of the effect we are intending to have.”

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