UK warplanes attack ISIL in NW Iraq

British warplanes have conducted their first aerial strikes against ISIL Takfiri terrorists in northwestern Iraq, the UK’s Defense Ministry states.

“In the course of an armed reconnaissance mission from RAF Akrotiri, two Tornados were tasked to assist Kurdish troops in northwest Iraq who were under attack from ISIL terrorists,” said the ministry’s statement on Tuesday.

The official statement further added that the bombings by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) were “part of the international coalition’s operations” to purportedly support the Iraqi government in its battle against the terrorists.

The development comes as British authorities have repeatedly warned that UK nationals belonging to the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq and Syria are a major threat to the nation’s security.

At least 500 Britons are believed to have joined the Takfiri terrorists in Syria and Iraq over the past two years in a bid to help destabilize or overthrow the central governments there.

Reports indicate that two Tornado GR4 aircraft, based in Cyprus, were used in the British bombing attack. 

An ISIL’s heavy weapons position that was engaged in attacking Kurdish forces in the area was targeted in the aerial raid, the Defense Ministry statement further elaborated.

Meanwhile, UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has emphasized that British warplanes may take part in bombing campaigns against the terrorists in Iraq and Syria for years to come.

This is while Britain has been among the western countries that have actively backed the militants, including ISIL operatives, fighting the Syrian government since 2011.

MFB/NN/HRB