RAF air strike kills Isis fighters hiding in Iraqi caves
Defence minister pledges to continue ‘relentless’ fight against jihadists
RAF jets have bombed a cave network being used as a base by an Islamic State cell in northern Iraq.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that “two Typhoon jets used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike all six of the caves” in the joint UK-US operation last week, with ten terrorists reported to have been killed.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The strikes continue because the Daesh threat is relentless and so will we be.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Intelligence sources had identified the caves and tunnel complex in the Hamrin mountains as an Isis base, reports The Times.
A “thorough check” of the surrounding area for civilians was carried out before the night-time attack last Tuesday, according to a statement on the MoD website.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Following the operation, “surveillance confirmed all the weapons struck their targets successfully, removing more Daesh fighters from the battlefield and further downgrading the terrorist movement”, the department said.
The Typhoons flew out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, reports defence news site DefPost.
The attack follows an RAF air strike on 10 April on Iris terrorists holed up in fortified buildings at an isolated site in northern Iraq, adds the Daily Mail.
The RAF began strikes against Isis in 2014 as part of “a wider strategy to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa”, says the air force’s official website.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The real story behind the Stanford Prison Experiment
The Explainer 'Everything you think you know is wrong' about Philip Zimbardo's infamous prison simulation
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Is it safe for refugees to return to Syria?
Talking Point European countries rapidly froze asylum claims after Assad's fall but Syrian refugees may have reason not to rush home
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 - 20 December
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
British defence: the crisis in the Armed Forces
Talking Point Depleted military power may not be able to meet its own commitment to up defence spending to 2.5%
By The Week UK Published
-
Secret plan for UK to protect Irish skies
Under The Radar Relations between Dublin and London have historically been strained but covert co-operation has endured for decades
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Why is Islamic State targeting Russia?
Today's Big Question Islamist terror group's attack on 'soft target' in Moscow was driven in part by 'opportunity and personnel'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
The ethics of military drones
feature Pilotless bombers play a key role in modern warfare but could AI increase the number of civilian deaths?
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
The deadly attacks on Syrian truffle hunters
feature Islamic State suspected of targeting Syrians risking their lives to secure much-needed income
By The Week Staff Published
-
Kansas woman sentenced to 20 years for leading Islamic State battalion
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Turmoil in Iraq
Speed Read Clashes between rival Shiite groups threaten to 'destabilize a frail state even further'
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
12 protesters shot and killed during street clashes in Baghdad
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published