UK extends anti-ISIS air strikes by year

The squadron of ageing Tornado GR4 fighter bombers which <g data-gr-id="23">was</g> due to be disbanded this year will now be kept on and used in the airstrikes, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said.

“ISIL terrorists pose a threat to <g data-gr-id="28">security</g> of Iraq, Syria, the wider region and to the streets of Britain. It <g data-gr-id="26">is therefore</g> our duty to ensure that the UK continues to play its part to defeat this barbaric regime,” Fallon said during a visit to Baghdad.

“Our aircraft have flown thousands of missions and RAF Tornados have carried out hundreds of strikes, helping Iraqi forces push back ISIL from the Kurdish region and out of key towns such as Tikrit and Bayji,” Fallon said. “We want to ensure we maintain this crucial operational tempo and so we will extend the lifetime of Number 12 Squadron for a further year to <g data-gr-id="19">March,</g> 2017. This will allow us to sustain our effort, helping the Iraqis lead the fight on the ground,” he said.

Tornados began carrying out missions in Iraq last September as part of US-led air strikes against IS, an extremist group which has seized control of parts of Iraq and Syria. The squadron of Tornado GR4 fighter bombers umber 12 Squadron was due to be disbanded last year and replaced with a squadron of Typhoon air defence fighters.