Reapers and Typhoons hit Islamic State

A Reaper unmanned aircraft conducted two attacks on terrorists north-east of Abu Kamal, whilst Typhoon jets struck a further three Islamic State buildings.

The following day, Typhoons struck a further three buildings, again being used as strong-points by Islamic State.

A Reaper was also patrolling the area, and its crew conducted two successful engagements with Hellfire missiles on Islamic State forces, including a pair spotted setting up a firing position on a rooftop.

Background on Operation Shader

By September last year, the Ministry of Defence had announced that over 1,000 personnel were engaged in theatre and that the Royal Air Force had conducted around 1,000 airstrikes, flying over 2,800 sorties, killing over 3,000 Islamic State fighters.

Last year, it was reported that the Royal Air Force was operating at its most intense for 25 years in a single theatre of operation which far outstripped the UK involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan – RAF jets have dropped 11 times more bombs (1,276 strikes) on Syria and Iraq in the preceding 12 months than they had in the busiest year of action in Afghanistan a decade previously.