The UK government has said there are no plans to bring Operation Shader to an end, confirming the long-running military mission against Daesh in Iraq and Syria remains ongoing, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The position was set out in response to a written parliamentary question from Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, who asked when the operation was scheduled to conclude. Replying on behalf of the department, Minister for Veterans Al Carns said the UK remains committed to the campaign to prevent a resurgence of the terrorist group.
“The UK remains committed to the enduring defeat of Daesh through Op SHADER,” he said. “Whilst all UK operations remain under constant review, there are no plans to end Op SHADER.” He added that the mission would continue in support of regional stability and UK national security. “The UK will continue to do what is necessary to prevent a Daesh resurgence, support regional stability and protect UK national security,” Carns said.
Operation Shader has been under way since 2014 and represents the UK’s contribution to the international coalition against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The mission includes intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activity, alongside strike operations conducted in support of partner forces.
UK air operations under Shader have continued in recent years. In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Royal Air Force remotely piloted aircraft carried out a precision strike near Aleppo after tracking a known Daesh operative and assessing that no civilians were at risk. The MoD said the strike destroyed the vehicle and killed the individual, describing the action as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Daesh activity and prevent the group from re-establishing itself in the region.
The government has not set a timeline for the conclusion of the operation, stating that the mission will remain subject to regular review based on threat conditions and coalition requirements.
