Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Selected RAF missions in the Middle East, 2021

[Source: Adapted from info from Ministry of Defence - Royal Air Force.]

Sunday 24 January 2021
A coalition surveillance aircraft located a number of Daesh terrorists based in a pair of caves some ten miles north of Bayji, and two Typhoon FGR4s were tasked to deal with them. These two fighter jets conducted simultaneous attacks using 2 Paveway IV guided bombs against each group. All four of the bombs struck their targets accurately. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Thursday 11 February 2021
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s were tasked against a number of terrorists who had been spotted in two dispersed encampments on the banks of the Tharthar river, to the west of Bayji. The Typhoons struck using Paveway IV guided bombs against a series of different targets within the encampments. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Wednesday 10 March 2021
Iraqi forces identified a significant number of Daesh terrorists using a cave complex south-west of Erbil. Two RAF Typhoon FGR4s were therefore tasked to conduct an attack in support of the Iraqi forces using Storm Shadow missiles, which struck their targets precisely. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Thursday 11 March 2021
Further surveillance efforts confirmed an additional two locations south-west of Erbil which were being used by Daesh. Two Typhoons therefore conducted precision attacks on the extremists at both locations using six Paveway IV guided bombs. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Friday 12 March 2021
RAF Typhoons struck another group of caves south-west of Erbil used by Daesh, with eight Paveway IV bombs. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Sunday 14 March 2021
Six Paveway IVs were employed by Typhoons against Daesh-held caves in the same mountainous area south-west of Erbil. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Wednesday 17 March 2021
Typhoons destroyed two more Daesh-held caves in the mountains south-west of Erbil with Paveway IV bombs. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Monday 22 March 2021
Daesh extremists were confirmed to be based in a network of caves in the Makhmur mountains, south-west of Erbil. Three Typhoon FGR4s were tasked to conduct an attack using Storm Shadow missiles. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Sunday 4 April 2021
An RAF Reaper, armed with Hellfire missiles, identified a small group of Daesh terrorists in northern Syria, some fifty miles west of Al Hasakah. The Reaper’s crew attacked the terrorists, striking the target successfully. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Tuesday 11 May 2021
Iraqi security forces encountered a group of Daesh terrorists in a strong defensive position some twenty five miles south west of Mosul. Coming under heavy small arms fire from the terrorists, the Iraqi troops requested air support from the RAF. A pair of Typhoon FGR4s responded promptly, attacking with two Paveway IV precision guided bombs. These hit the target accurately and eliminated a number of the Daesh extremists. The Iraqi forces were then able to assault the position successfully and overwhelm the few remaining terrorists. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Monday 6 September 2021
Ground forces conducting security operations some thirty miles south of Erbil came under fire from a Daesh position in an area of heavy vegetation. Two RAF Typhoon FGR4s responded to the call for assistance, and used a single Paveway IV guided bomb. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Monday 25 October 2021
The crew of a remotely piloted Reaper armed with Hellfire missiles tracked a known terrorist in northern Syria, near the city of Ras al Ayn. When the individual was alone in a field they carried out a successful attack. Mission completed, threat eliminated.

Tuesday 14 December 2021
Hostile drone activity was detected around the At Tanf coalition base in Syria. A pair of Typhoon FGR4s from Royal Air Force Akrotiri were conducting one of their regular patrols over Syria and Iraq as part of the global coalition against Daesh, and were tasked to investigate. On arrival in the At Tanf area, the pilots were able to identify a small hostile drone, and despite the diminutive size of the target, succeeded in conducting an air to air engagement with an ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile). Mission completed, threat eliminated.