Tornado

The UK and France fighter aircraft have carried out a new round of airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq.

The French Defence Ministry said in a statement: "During an armed reconnaissance mission in the Tikrit region 200km (124 miles) north of Baghdad, mobile targets were transmitted to flight crews.

"After they were identified and confirmed as hostile by the Rafale pilots, they were targeted with three laser-guided GBU 12 bombs."

Representing the third round of air strikes under Operation Chammal since joining a US-led anti IS coalition last month, the attacks were carried out in collaboration with the US bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft, and destroyed two IS pick-up trucks.

Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence said two Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 fighters fired Brimstone missiles to destroy two IS trucks after the militants attacked an Iraqi military convoy south of Fallujah.

Over the weekend, the RAF continued airstrikes at an IS stronghold near Ramadi, and also flew additional missions to assist the Iraqi Government in its fight against the terrorist organisation.

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The US began aerial bombing in Iraq in August, and extended the campaign to Syria, where the IS has its headquarters, the following month.

"The latest airstrikes near the Syrian border town of Kobane destroyed IS fighting and mortar positions, an IS vehicle, and a stray resupply bundle."

The latest airstrikes near the Syrian border town of Kobane destroyed IS fighting and mortar positions, an IS vehicle, and a stray resupply bundle from a US airdrop of Kurdish supplies to prevent it from reaching the militants.

All other resupply bundles were successfully delivered to Kurdish fighters, according to the US Central Command.

Meanwhile, Turkey has agreed to allow Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters to cross its borders to join Syrian Kurdish forces defending Kobane against militants.

Kobane has become a hub of fighting between IS and coalition forces in recent weeks, forcing several thousands of its civilian inhabitants to flee into neighbouring Turkey.

Ankara has long suspected Syrian Kurds due to their ties with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which initiated a decades-long militant campaign for Kurdish rights in Turkey, and is also deemed as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.


Image: A Tornado GR4 fighter aircraft stationed at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Photo: Crown ©.

Defence Technology