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RAF jets strike first IS targets in Iraq | RAF jets strike first IS targets in Iraq |
(35 minutes later) | |
RAF jets have attacked a "heavy weapon position" and an armed pick-up truck in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said. | RAF jets have attacked a "heavy weapon position" and an armed pick-up truck in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
In the first attacks since Parliament approved military action on Friday, two "precision strikes" were launched and both were "successful", the MoD said. | In the first attacks since Parliament approved military action on Friday, two "precision strikes" were launched and both were "successful", the MoD said. |
The attacks, by two Tornado jets, were part of an international effort against militant group Islamic State (IS). | The attacks, by two Tornado jets, were part of an international effort against militant group Islamic State (IS). |
A US-led coalition of about 40 nations is trying to destroy IS, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria. | A US-led coalition of about 40 nations is trying to destroy IS, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria. |
Kurdish sources said the RAF strikes had helped them retake an "important border crossing" at Rabia near the border with Syria, the BBC's Clive Myrie tweeted. | |
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said both Tornados had "returned safely to their base", RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. | |
The MoD said the aircraft were on an "armed reconnaissance mission" when they were asked to help Kurdish troops in north-west Iraq. | |
It said the Kurds were under attack from IS - also known as Isil and Isis. | It said the Kurds were under attack from IS - also known as Isil and Isis. |
"On arriving overhead, the RAF patrol, using their Litening III targeting pod, identified an Isil heavy weapon position which was engaging Kurdish ground forces," an MoD statement said. | "On arriving overhead, the RAF patrol, using their Litening III targeting pod, identified an Isil heavy weapon position which was engaging Kurdish ground forces," an MoD statement said. |
"One Paveway IV guided bomb was used to attack the Isil position. | "One Paveway IV guided bomb was used to attack the Isil position. |
"Following this engagement, the patrol identified an Isil armed pick-up truck in the same area and conducted an attack on the vehicle using a Brimstone missile. | "Following this engagement, the patrol identified an Isil armed pick-up truck in the same area and conducted an attack on the vehicle using a Brimstone missile. |
"An initial assessment indicates that both precision strikes were successful." | "An initial assessment indicates that both precision strikes were successful." |
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Britain would not be "panicked" into dropping bombs in Iraq by reports that militants were advancing. | |
He said the RAF would carefully target IS, as hitting civilians would have the "opposite of the effect we are intending". | |
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