There have been claims on social media that British jets are helping the Israeli Air Force bomb targets in Gaza, the claims are false.
Multiple accounts are sharing misinformation that British jets are assisting the Israeli air force. However, British jets are in the area because they’re involved in operations against Daesh (Islamic State) in Syria and Iraq.
They’ve been there for years…
Where did the claims come from?
Below is a screenshot of a tweet that has gone viral on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other sources.
This tweet from @Pal_action is false, misleading and irresponsible. British jets are in the area because they're involved in operations against Daesh (Islamic State) in Syria and Iraq. They've been there for years. pic.twitter.com/wKb08ezY6s
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) May 16, 2021
People are still spreading the claim.
https://twitter.com/Fu_Gi_Ti_Ve/status/1393862558335995904
Why are British jets there?
British jets often fly over countries on their way to and from Syria and Iraq to conduct operations against Islamic State (Daesh) forces still present in those countries as part of Operation Shader.
British jets launch and return from RAF Akrotiri on Cyrpus.
Operation Shader began on the 9th of August 2014, when the Royal Air Force began a series of humanitarian air aid drops onto Mount Sinjar in Northern Iraq.
The air drops were ordered following the genocide of the Yazidi people and other ethnic minorities by Daesh in Northern Iraq, which had led to them fleeing onto the mountainside to escape Daesh.
Following the conclusion of the aid drops, the operation quickly changed to become the UK element in the US-led coalition that began the campaign to destroy Daesh. Based out of Cyprus, the Royal Air Force continues to survey and strike targets in Iraq and Syria as part of the Global Coalition under the banner of Op SHADER.
You can read more about the operation here.
Why do you even bother? It’s Twitter, nobody will thank you for changing their mind because their mind is already made up.
Exactly.
I’m not even sure they believe any of it. Much of this nonsense is coming from people who are just attention seeking. Might be best not to draw attention to any of it. That said those claiming there were no aircraft on the carriers have unwittingly educated many people that not only do we have aircraft but we also have carriers.
The Israeli air force certainly does not need RAF backup .
No it doesn’t but it does need the USA for much of its airforces munitions
Not sure what that’s got to do with this thread ?
You’d hope not against civilians.
“Rise up against Downing Street”
That is telling and points to the “usual suspects”
Oh the twitter rent a mob are a laugh aren’t they 😁
Quite Daniele,
Twitter is chocked ‘full’ of rabid cranks, personally I never bother, but well done George for trying to hold back the tide of insanity!
Of course the RAF are not involved in Gaza operations, these tweets are clearly about raising the angst and anger of its supporters generally and Muslims particularly in Britain to demonstrate (and possibly worse) against the British Govt and people, either by deliberate policy of the organisation or as a result of its one eyed inbuilt ignorance and prejudices (probably a mix). However there was a direct question asked in that tweet in reply asking Ukdj to explain the routing of that aircraft which is presumably a true reflection of an RAF fighter. So far no answer has been given… Read more »
My presumption would be after a quick examination that this aircraft is returning from a raid on West Iraq or East Syria routing over Jordan and Israel deliberately staying clear of conflict zones, the West Bank, Gaza or indeed Russian/Syrian/Iranian air defence missiles which could target them over north Israel as it did an Israeli F16 a while back (and Israel probably precludes from entering as a sensitive zone anyway) and then heading northerly back towards Cyprus avoiding Tel Aviv or major cities to again avoid being targeted by defence systems. Well out of the way but clearly sensible, especially… Read more »
defined air corridor for coalition aircraft going into theater,
Can I offer this simple example for a wider audience..? Planes land into wind, we can all agree on that. So if there is a westerly at Heathrow an aircraft coming in from the US will approach the airport from the east so that it is flying into the wind. Clearly that does NOT mean it has been to Moscow… Your comments rightly highlight a whole extra level of complexity in airspace control in a combat zone, which the Middle East clearly is at this moment – sadly. Aircraft do not just flting in straight lines, especially in busy airspace… Read more »
I thought it interesting that the flight path image is cropped in such a way that it doesn’t show Gaza and the fact that the flight path is in fact coming from the direction of Jordan while sensibly skirting around the West Bank. It is exactly the flight path one might expect having spent even a few minutes taking the various aspects into consideration. That flight path cuts out having to return over Gaza (ironically) northern Egypt, while one presumes going seaward south of Tel Aviv would place it between incoming rockets from Gaza headed to that city and the… Read more »
A person once argued (with me) that an Airbus A380 had landed vertically in strong winds. Whereas it was just the ‘compressed’ depth of field that resulted from the long zoom lens that filmed the plane landing, from an almost head on vantage point.
Generally speaking, when airliners land vertically Dave, it rarely ends well….👍
What part of ‘most logical’ is based on a screen dump that does not include the targeted region, is of a track heading NNE, & from the a/c position places Gaza SW.
The headline would go viral, in a similar way to my click here, but most people would have come to the same conclusion based upon the above, with no other supporting data.
That said, I’m no member of Twitter, for obvious reasons.
NNW. Maybe I should join Twitter
So which one are the goodies again ????? 🤔
Neither. They have been hell bent on killing each other for centuries.
You have to admire their doggedness I suppose. The whole ‘My Sky Fairy is better than your Sky Fairy’ is rocking it old skool, none of this modern guff about ‘ologies’ or oil. 😞
What’s even sillier is they are both into the same sky fairy part 1 story….it’s just a different interpretation of what to do with that same sky fairy story….cracks me up…
Aye, the plot gets a bit convoluted when they’ve carried on to ‘The return of, the revenge of Sky Fair IX’. Complete with the tagline “This time its personal”. 😞
You can mock Andy, but let me tell you it’s only my daily trip to the local Lay line crossing point, with my magic crystals in my pocket and my wizards had on, that stops the sky falling down…. 😱
There would be no airstrikes without sky, just pointing this out……👍
On behalf of a grateful world, I thank you John. ‘Tis a noble thing you do. 😂
You’re welcome mate, ( I’m going twice today, just in case any UKDJ contributors are off to Portugal) that’s the problem with the the followers of other sky god’s, they haven’t got silly pointy floppy hats with stars on, or perhaps more importantly, magic crystals….
You simply can’t be taken seriously without these critical items…..
I guess its all about appearances in that kind of caper and if you don’t measure up, you’re outa here… !
Kudos for taking the whole thing so seriously mate, a few more like you and we wouldn’t need an army and a navy. 😂
I also think Andy, that ther’re No goodies there! The Chinese are probably laughing their socks off at us on this issue, right now!
The behaviour of the Israelis are getting to the point of liability to the West. There are No angels on the other side either!
It also seems that Netanyahu is manipulating the crisis for his political ends!
What, shock horror?! Politician manipulates crisis for political ends?
Isnt that what a crisis is? As Clauswitz said, “war is politics by other means”.
In other news, Bears suspected to be defecating in the woods.
As for “no angels on the other side”. Is there a single well run Arab state? A single Arab leadership without blood on their hands (Arab blood).
The “goodies” are the civilians in both Israel and Palestine who just want to go about their daily lives without fearing airstrikes from Israel or rocket attacks from Gaza.
If only it was that simple…. I doubt there is anyone in the area (understandably) that doesn’t have a foot in one camp or another. Us people are dicks and are always happy to find a ‘THEM’ to scapegoat for all the ills of the world.
Sadly even if there was some kind of ‘magic wand’ solution and all the disputes were resolved today, it would take generations for it all to heal. We’re all fecking petty minded barbarians. 😡
I wonder if Netanyahu did initiated the crisis for his own political ends, hmmm?
While I respect the right of Israel to defend itself, I must admit I prefer the old Mossad way of a couple of marksmen armed with .22 target pistols taking out a terrorist, without the overkill of JDAMS on tower blocks, which is likely to be a global public relations disaster for Israel once Bibi is gone.
Quite, watching an entire 15 storey tower block collapse as if it were the World Trade Centre, comes across as a grossly OTT reaction.
Mmmmmmmm, yes, he asked the Palestinians to throw rockets at Israel and they obliged as they think having him in power is good for the Palestinian cause!
Was not the recent crisis the result of evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem?
I am sure that Bibi has his finger prints on the decision of the evictions for his own political survival!
Yeah, because firing rockets into the cities of your neighbouring country is such a considered response to someone being evicted. We do that all the time in Europe.
It is done in Europe as well, in Eastern Ukraine by pro Russian militia of which I think you support?
How quickly 1948 war is forgotten. In 1947 the UN voted that Jerusalem should be an open city. The Jews reluctantly agreed but Arabs including NAZI aligned and trained Palestinians refused absolutely – indeed until 1980 the PLO refused to accept Israel’s right to exist. In 1948 the King of Jordan flouted the UN resolution and sent the Arab Legion to conquer all of Jerusalem. Jews were evicted from Sheik Jarrah and the Jewish Quarter of the Old City they had inhabited for up to 1000 years! The remaining western Jewish western part of the city was constantly bombarded and… Read more »
But why did not the Jaws accept and agreed to the 1947 UN Petition Plan?
If that was the case a UN force could have repelled the arab attack.
So European Jews ran the last 500 years what we call Israel today ? You can’t rewrite history when you deal with those that know history. I just wish you were as passionate about British troops as you are about Israel. But hey who I’m I to say that? I’m just passionate about our troops and country 🙂
Hmm history is a odd thing, so how far back are we basing land claims on 100, 1000, 2000 years? Lets make no mistake this is a religious war. With religion boundaries set in the past 100 or even 500 years are not relevant. This not a modern day conflict as many would like to frame it as but a repeat of centuries of fighting for control what some deem as must have territory based on religious beliefs. Kurds have have no state in the middle east and no one gives a stuff.
And everyone is also forgetting the geo-politics involved. Iran supports Hamas. There is an undeclared war going on in the background with Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, the Kurds, Daesh, Gulf States, Saudi, Israel – not to mention the US, Turkey, the UK and Europe and Russia all jockeying for position. And when the Iranians need to call in favour … the helpful idiots in Hamas are happy to lob rockets at Israel for their masters, and then sit back and let Gaza get destroyed. The Hamas leadership is happy to sit it out in Qatar. Maybe the absolute pasting they are… Read more »
But unlike World Trade Towers those in Gaza were given 10 minutes or more to evacuate and the towers were not collapsed by planes full of hijacked crew and passengers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/15/world/middleeast/israel-palestinian-gaza-war.html
There will be some who want to believe this info; what value do the RAF offer in the delivery of Op Shader? Would it be worthwhile taking our iron out of the fire until things settle down in Palestine?
That would only serve to confirm the lies.
George. Is there a reason as to why I am appearing, presumably in pantomime, as a Mexican bandit?
You’re not now! You look like Morph with no features!
Muchas gracias amigo. As lumps of clay go I always quite liked Morph!
Earlier this year the Chief of the Air Staff visited Israel, and last year the Israeli Air Force came over here to participate in an exercise, plus the over flights in Israeli airspace. All this gives the impression to those with closed minds that we are taking sides.
Think you might have nailed it DMcC.
Hasn’t the west picked a side? There is no pressure to find peace anymore
I agree . The west stands with a regime that broke more international UN resolution than even North Korea can dream of that thinks it’s above international law we helped create . They are spoiled with political and economic support from Europe and America. Much of the public in Europe and America support not Israeli apartheid regime nor human rights org. Only politicians in the pockets of the Israeli lobby support Israel. I don’t want our military to be associated with baby killing IDF, it’s not a position they are okay with to be put at
I respect that Israel needs to be able to defend itself, but the west has given up on peace, there is no pressure to force change. Israel expands its settlements and no one blinks an eye so has nothing really to gain from a 2 state solution.
The world lacks any leadership now to create the environment for change
We clearly are taking sides ! You have said it yourself. The government is refusing to condemn Israeli war crimes. It even tried to block the ICC prosecution of Israeli war crimes and we sell Israel weapons . It’s Israel the occupation force illegally occupying under International law we helped to create. Israel can’t be above law it must be held accountable to its crimes against humanity. China has already called out western hypocrisy over western stance on Gaza while attacking China over its minorities treatment
Yes, I agree it is hypocritical of us in UK complaining about China’s human rights abuses, while an allied state In the Med is doing more or less same thing.
Interesting you define Israel as “allied”.
So they’re in NATO? Nope.
So they’re in the Commonwealth. Nope.
Ah, must be 5PDA, oh, nope.
So some centuries old alliance like the one with Portugal? Umm, nope.
So where is this Alliance?
The allied connection is though our alliance with the USA Rogbob, that gives Israel a free gift of over $3Bn per annum which is used to buy mainly arms.
It is like if your best mate’s mate was up to No good, and also gives him money for bad habits!
Maybe the UK should ask the USA for $3Bn annum for some of our defence commitments, we have been very useful!
So not a UK-Israel alliance in any way then.
The support from the US wrt Trident probably saves us that kind of money, likewise intelligence and imagery information.
That is correct Rogbob, No direct alliance with Israel, only though partners.
Germany has also a relationship with Israel and given them brand new submarines for free.
Aleo I am very disappointed when the truth is told, you get a very extreme reaction from commenters who I thought where rational beings.
So why your original post alledging hypocrisy by the UK wrt an Allied state?
The truth is we arent close to Israel, but we are close to Arab nations and historically that has been our closest thing to an “alliance”.
Genrally I think the UK has tired of the middle east’s hatred for each other and seemingly endless desire to kill each other. The only people who can really stop that is them. They show no desire to.
I believe the UK position is both sides need to resolve this peace fully. How do you conclude we’re allied with israel. Via the Eurovision song contest perhaps.
I have explained above to Rogbob.
That a pretty tenuous link and one shared by a number of countries.
So if your best mate’s mate was up to No good, would you at least have a word with your mate about him?
But the description of ‘best mate’ not a comparison. UK is not in a position to do much UK is not really ‘best mates’ its complex multi-faceted international relationship that encompasses trade, politics, defence climate etc with the US. Saying have a word with your mate is vastly over simplifying things.
I do agree with the UK position there to resolve those matters peacefully.
You are correct the Israeli’s are not a very pleasant regime, but neither are the Palestinian’s/Hamas who are also guilty war crimes. The old saying “two wrongs not make right” is very apt.
Get this around your head Mr! Israel is an illegally occupying force under international law! All side of our parliament and the international community agree on that! Gaza is an open air prison with millions of people who can’t escape the fight even as it’s blockaded by Israel through land air and sea! if you are suffocated like that resistance groups like Hamas will emerge who have no military to match the Israeli war machine . If Israel leaves Palestinian lands them those homemade rockets would stop . But firing at the international media killing hundreds of civilians will not… Read more »
If I was trying to make a point on human rights and international law I wouldn’t be quoting china in my post.
What about China? Is it doing anything worse than Israel does? China uses not fighter jets to bomb civilians in its territory. Israeli bombs people it occupies constitutes war crime under international law which we are signed up to
I’m making the point that if you want claim moral high ground don’t use an oppressive regime as a bench mark. I’m not getting into an argument if bombing some one is better than jailing democracy protesters or imprisonment of a minorities in reconditioning camps.
We should stop selling the Israel apartheid regime that all human rights organisation condemn! They don’t share our values for human rights and protection of civilians . If Israel occupied not Palestinian lands Hamas would not exist . Israel under International law is an occupying force and expanding its illegal settlements and do ethnic cleansing. I saw videos of Israeli forces dancing celebrating while they fire at Gaza which was disgusting and sick. If real military ballistic missiles hit Israeli city that would certainly make Israel think twice about attacking Gaza civilians , but Israel knowns it’s Iron Dome can… Read more »
There is a lot of truth in your comment, James! Extremist on both sides, No centre ground. So time for action by the West?
It is on the Med as well!
What do you propose the West does? Launch airstrikes against the only liberal democracy in the middle east in support of Hamas?
Israel is not dropping bombs in densely packed urban area’s out of choice, if Hamas is choosing to launch 3,000 rockets at Israel from buildings full of women and children there is there is very little Israel can do to stop them without responding with airstrikes.
The West need to start restricting arms sales to Middle East.
The rockets fired by hamas, are just fireworks compared to the air strikes that Israel is conducting which are killing mainly civilians.
It is certainly an uneven playing field, and I am No fan of hamas!
They are by no means fireworks. They may be unguided and where built on mass to deliberately overwhelm the Israeli iron dome missile shield.
Hamas knew full well what the Israeli response would be, they know they can’t win any military conflict so will happily use their own people as human shields to win a propoganda war while launching thousands of unguided rockers 20% of which land on their own citizens.
Maybe the rockets are intended to reach Israeli target and Israel using its civilians as human shield? Ever thought of that ? This idea of human shield is the most offensive disgusting thing I have ever heard ! Kill babies and say they were human shields . I’m glad that’s not the standard of our British military. If you are a fan of the IDF go and join them but much of the British public and the world condemns Israeli war crimes
That’s a pretty dumb argument when Israel has invested billions into its iron dome defense system its pretty clear they are serious about protecting their own citizens. As disgusting as using civilians as humans shields it very much does happen. Hamas hq is run from the basement of a hospital, their leaders very much stick to areas densely populated by children and surround themselves with as many of their own children as they can. The ira made is of human shields to murder plenty of British soldiers in the early days of the troubles, something British soldiers struggled to deal… Read more »
Do you know anything about British history in Palestine? Who bombed the King David hotel and killed British soldiers? It was Israeli ! The first modern terrorist attack was conducted by Israel . You even admit Israel is no match for the Palestinians who have no army even yet condone the killing of babies by Israel. You very well known Gaza is the most densely populated city in the world and people can’t escape it by land by sea or by air as Israel blockaded it all! This happens not even in Syria Iraq Yemen etc it’s something we have… Read more »
I agree Israel is far from perfect. Yes Gaza is one if the most densley packed urban areas in the world which makes Hamas military strategy so appalling. The elephant pro phalestinian supporters refuse to address is what do hamas actually want to secure peace. Returning to 1967 or 1949 borders is not enough for them, they want Israel gone and will not cease until it is achieved. So what is Israel really supposed to do?
Fireworks? Seriously? That’s such an idiotic thing to say. Have you ever lived in Israel? I have – and trust me, Israelis don’t consider them as fireworks!!! Iran has supplied upgraded rockets of increasing range to Hamas and has trained them in their use. So no, they’re not bloody fireworks mate! Further, why is no one asking Hamas why they continue to fire on Israeli cities from their own civilian built up areas? Of course Palestine casualties will be disproportionate when Israel defends itself – something Hama likes to use for their own sick propaganda. Hamas is well aware that… Read more »
So you didn’t understand my comparison, very disappointing! So back to school for you then!
I thought you were a grown up person uselly on other articles, but turns out Not to be the case!
Hi, please keep in mind our comment moderation policy with regards to being respectful towards others, and not being rude. Stay on topic.
I’m often amused by this Israeli supporters wherever they are they are more loyal to Israel than their own country and its military. They want war crimes to be made an exception for Israel and be above international law. It’s simple whether it’s Israel or Hamas, international law must be applied to them fully! But to supply weapons to Israel and attack Palestine, when they try to defend themselves with the little options they have is something that is rejected by much of the international community and no longer is acceptable! Israel so desperate they are buying YouTube ads to… Read more »
I sense white supremacist behaviour amongst some of the Pro lobby!
Well said!!! Let’s be clear; Hamas doesn’t give a toss about their own people. They fire rockets indiscriminately into Israel from built up areas knowing civilians – their own civilians – will get caught up in the inevitable Israeli response. Real heroes Hamas is!!
Our military kills no babies and practices not collective punishment which is illegal under international law. You consider the IDF fine? I consider British men and women in uniform the finest Mr who don’t want to be associated with Nethanyahu IDF crimes . Nethanyahu faces corruption charges even in his own country 🤐 Don’t come on here and try to dehumanise the Palestinians that have no military to stop the Israeli strikes . Why does Israel no target countries that can punch them back like Egypt Iran Turkey instead of targeting unarmed Palestinians?
Well if you saw an internet video it must be true. Absolutely cast iron evidence. No need to think about it or question it at all.
How would Hamas, or any Palestinian group behave if it ran what is now Israel? It’s a be a land of milk and honey and peace?
What’s the Palestinian’s record on human rights? How do they treat their fellow Palestinians?
They seem really keen on protecting and not harming civillians. All those 1000s of rockets are aimed at military targets right?
Don’t fool yourself into thinking if Israel restored 1967 borders that Hamas would disappear. Hamas does not recognise Israel’s right to exist and never will.
They launched 3,000+ rockets into Israel, what other response do you expect Israel to respond with.
Hello all, anyone tell me what’s going on here now ? 🤔
Arab Israel conflict old boy, the eternal hate that just keeps on giving.
One group of historically oppressed people, having secured a small area of land that people they share a small amount of DNA with happened to live on 1000s of years ago, are once again smashing 7 bells of hell out of another group of people whose military incompetence stretching back centuries has seen them lose that small patch of land. The latter group are having a hard time getting over this or learning from it, indeed appear to be trying some mammoth level society and cultural Pavlovian experiment – albeit not helped by their “freinds” around them who seem to… Read more »
Historically oppressed people ? Who oppresses who? Germany commited the genocide of Jews and should pay the price not Palestinians who welcomed them as refugees only to be driven out by the refugees they welcome . And don’t even try to say they used live there 3000 years ago , because if such claims are made to annex other people lands then the entire global map would look different and Americans Aussies and Brazil much of South America must be returned to its natives.
If I don’t steal your house somebody else will steal it ” Israeli settler words .
Since English is clearly not a strong language for you, I assume you missed the sarcasm in my post.
Although oppression of the Jews has been a multi-millenia activity conducted by everbody. Hence their determination to secure their home.
One cannot but admire that they have acheived that against overwhelming odds.
In contrast the other locals have acheived the square root of nothing, and continue very much in that vein.
Many have been oppressed for millenia and not just Jews. So you are saying just because they have been oppressed centuries ago this gives them the right to oppress others 2021? Ladies and gentlemen this is the true face of the pro Israel lobby and their logic. Secure a home ? You mean at the expense of others by forced eviction and ethnic cleansing . Do you support International law we are signed up to and we helped create ? If not you are pro Israel, if you support International rules based law and order you can’t but cringe when… Read more »
There is one simple truth about Twitter. It is idiots talking to idiots. If you are ever on there, you just need to work out – which one of the idiots are you?
I’ve been watching the videos from both sides regards the weapons used, the IDF issued this one regards their use of Spike in which to hunt down Hamas Missile teams
https://twitter.com/babaktaghvaee/status/1392528321309720583?s=21
Hamas on the other hand are using Iranian loitering drones
https://twitter.com/babaktaghvaee/status/1392839928648593417?s=21
with one hitting a Merkava tank on a truck today.
The Flightradar24 website has recently picked up some RAF flights, mainly Voyagers plus some Typhoons, transiting from Jordan into Akrotiri. As they overfly Israel, some may think they are taking part in the action against HAMAS.
What’s bizzare is they have their transponders on for this!
They were transiting in international air space over the Med, so their transponders would be have to be on. Similarly, transponders are onduring UK training flights. No doubt they would be switched off during operations over Iraq or Syria.
The Israelis are mounting 100s of air strikes a day.
We have Typhoons from Aki doing what, 4 a day tops.
I dont think we’d be adding much!
It’s so destructive that the tec company’s continue to hid behind the “ we are not publishers” stance. allowing truth to be buried under piles of lies without any Real effort to challenge and ensure what is on their platforms has some form of veracity and expands peoples knowledge and ability to form valid opinions. It’s so Sad that something with the potential to enlighten humanity and expand true has been subverted in to effectively the biggest shop of lies and crap adverting ever.
They tend to be made up of two groups of people. Uneducated pacifists, or really just idiots who think if Israel recognise Palastine and revert to the 1967 border and the problem will simply go away.
The other are the pure fascists who willingly push the Hamas propoganda machine and wouldn’t bat an eyelid if Israel ceased to exist and every jew displaced.
We’ve already messed up the middle East enough. Don’t need to make it worse.
Twitter its for the birds
We have a trashy online publication down here in the Westcountry called DevonLive where the ‘journalists’ seem to believe that good reporting involves detailing the latest trending Tweet however idiotic, unevidenced or anonymous it happens to be.
There’s no doubt in my mind that journalists have got lazy (some at least) and just spend their time going through forums, facebook etc. for their stories. I know for an absolute fact that a story was made up on a football forum I was on as a ‘tester’ and sure enough, it made the press. It couldn’t have come from anywhere else as it was all bollox. I could go on, the whole ‘vox pop’ crap you get on the news where they go to Darlington or wherever and and random’s their view on whatever subject and you know… Read more »
Its what ive always said about Social Media. It gives any idiot an audience that they didn’t have before.