RAF strikes Isil targets in Iraq as terror group exploits pandemic

‘Security was in a poor state and this is an example of our adverseries taking advantage of Covid-19’

THE RAF carried out four strikes against Isil this month, as the terror group is understood to be exploiting the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic to step up attacks.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that the bombings were carried out over northern Iraq and were all successful in hitting their targets.

The first of the four strikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant took place on May 8 when an RAF Reaper targeted a bunker containing a group of fighters near Tuz Khurmatu. In the final strike a jet dropped an explosive on a group of Isil fighters hiding in woods, along with stored equipment.

It comes after two similar operations in April, which was the first time the RAF had taken action in the region since last year.

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence select committee, cautioned that “global security was in a poor state prior to Covid-19” and said the increased activity was an “example of our adversaries taking full advantage of the pandemic”.

He said the fact such attacks continue in Iraq shows it still requires the international community to step forward. “This is all the more reason why our defence budgets should be protected,” he added.

His comments came as Charlie Pate, the director general of finance at the MOD, told the Commons public accounts select committee on Thursday that he was already “reducing spend on infrastructure, reducing training exercises, and making decisions on specific capabilities to live within the budget”.