A Royal Air Force Reaper scouted ahead of the Iraqi advance near al Hawd and the Reaper’s crew spotted an Islamic State truck on the move, loaded with rockets.
A direct hit from a Hellfire missile on the driver’s cab and engine brought the vehicle to an immediate halt and a second missile safely destroyed its cargo.
In western Iraq, two Typhoons patrolled to the north-west of Ramadi, where they used a pair of Paveway IV guided bombs against two terrorist mortar positions located within a palm grove.
Recently the Ministry of Defence revealed that British aircraft have carried out more than a thousand air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
“Daesh is firmly on the back foot. RAF jets are hitting them hard, driving them back and helping local forces recapture territory.
This vital work is freeing innocent civilians from a brutal regime, while keeping our streets safe at home.”
Over 3,000 armed sorties have now been flown since operations started in 2014.
In addition to armed aircraft, the Royal Air Force have deployed Sentinel battlefield surveillance aircraft, Sentry AEW&C aircraft, Voyager tanker aircraft, Atlas, Globemaster and Hercules transport aircraft in addition to RC-135W Airseeker reconnaissance aircraft and other platforms.
Operation Shader is the operational code name given to the British participation in the ongoing military intervention against the Islamic State.
The operation began in Iraq on the 26th of September 2014, following a formal request for assistance by the Iraqi government.
