Michael Fallon says the UK is ‘hitting the terrorists hard’ in Syria and Iraq
2 min read
British forces have “hit the terrorists hard” in recent action against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Defence Secretary said today.
Sir Michael Fallon said the group had now lost control of more than two thirds of its territory in Iraq and was also losing ground in Syria.
The Ministry of Defence detailed RAF strikes on a range of targets in both countries over the past two weeks, including IS headquarters and a truck bomb command post.
The terror organisation are on the back foot after losing control of the key Iraqi town of Mosul in July, although they still hold their main Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.
The RAF is also involved in providing air support to Iraqi ground troops battling the militants.
Sir Michael said: “As Iraqi Security Forces advance on Tal Afar and Syrian Democratic Forces continue with the liberation of Raqqa, the RAF is providing continuous air support in the fight to end Daesh’s barbarous presence in its strongholds.
“Daesh has now lost over 70% of territory it once occupied in Iraq and is in retreat in Syria. This has only been possible because the UK, as a leading member in the Global Coalition, has hit the terrorists hard where they plan their campaigns of violence, depravity and hate.
“The recent terrorist attacks serve as grim reminders of the need to defeat Daesh and its twisted ideology across all theatres.”
Among the RAF operations were the demolition of a Daesh-held building by Typhoon jets on 9 August, and the detruction of a booby-trapped building in eastern Syria on 18 August.
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