RAF destroys key Islamic State facilities and equipment in air strikes in Syria

Aerial bombardments by British forces have destroyed a significant number of Islamic State terror group command posts, tunnel networks and weapons in Syria.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was the UK’s busiest month over Syria since February, hitting targets of IS, also known as Daesh, at a rate of more than one per day.

RAF Tornados and Reapers have continued to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Iraqi Security Forces as they attack the last remaining pockets of IS in both countries.

One of the airstrikes on September 12 involved an RAF Reaper aircraft supporting the SDF to mount an offensive towards Abu Kamal, at the southern end of a significant remaining area of IS-held territory in eastern Syria.

IS fighters were seen throwing grenades and firing a machine-gun before the Reaper crew were able to guide a missile to accurately strike them.

Three attacks were carried out on one day on September 23, with a strike on the upper floor of a three-storey building and a further two strikes on two separate buildings, all near Abu Kamal.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The fight against Daesh is by no means over and we must continue to stand up for our people and our partners, to ensure their abhorrent and poisonous ideology does not spread to our streets.

“So long as they pose a clear and immediate threat to our national and international security, we will work tirelessly to stamp them out.

“We will not ease off and allow them to reorganise, as this month’s operations show.”