British surveillance operations to monitor IS in Iraq and Syria extended

British surveillance operations to monitor Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria have been extended until next year, the Defence Secretary has announced.

Michael Fallon said the RAF's sole Sentinel spy aircraft will continue its deployment until 2016 as part of the UK's "intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance commitment" to the US-led coalition in the fight against the extremist group.

The announcement comes a year after MPs voted for military action in Iraq, with the launch of air strikes against IS beginning shortly afterwards.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Iraqi forces, aided by the coalition, had regained 25% of the territory held by IS, also known as Isil, following the militants' advance last summer.

Mr Fallon said: "The fight against Isil is our top operational priority and Britain is playing a vital role.

"Our armed forces have conducted more than 300 strikes, flown almost a third of all coalition surveillance flights and trained over 2,000 local troops.

"In 2014 Isil enjoyed near total freedom of movement across much of Iraq but we've helped stop the jihadist advance, reclaiming a quarter of Isil-held territory.

"Now we must build on this progress. We will not let up until we have defeated this barbaric terrorist organisation."

The MoD said the Iraqi government had reclaimed 200 square kilometres in the north of the country, retaken the city of Tikrit and pushed IS out of Diyala province in the east.

A total of 800 UK personnel were committed to the campaign, training 2,000 Iraqi soldiers, while RAF Reaper, Airseeker and Sentinel aircraft had made 30% of all surveillance missions.

Parliament has not authorised British bombing raids on IS-held territory in Syria, although Mr Fallon told the House of Commons in July that 80 UK personnel, including five pilots, have worked with coalition forces on attacks in the war-torn country.

And earlier this month David Cameron said that an RAF drone had killed two Britons in an attack near the city of Raqqa, describing the action as an "act of self defence".

He now faces a legal challenge over the decision to target IS fighters Reyaad Khan, from Cardiff, and Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen.

The Prime Minister has indicated he could seek MPs' approval to extend the bombing campaign against IS from Iraq into Syria.