The Hero
الأســــــــــــــطورة
- إنضم
- Jun 29, 2008
- المشاركات
- 20,104
- مستوى التفاعل
- 69
- المطرح
- في ضحكة عيون حبيبي
Britain is at war: RAF Tornados in the air over Iraq with orders to strike ISIS as SAS teams on the ground prepare to guide arsenal of smart bombs to terrorists' lairs
Britain is at war: RAF Tornados in the air over Iraq with orders to strike ISIS as SAS teams on the ground prepare to guide arsenal of smart bombs to terrorists' lairs
RAF warplanes have completed their first mission over Iraq since Parliament gave the go-ahead for air strikes against Islamic State militants.
Two Tornado GR4 fighter bombers were seen returning to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus seven hours after they took off supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
Neither plane deployed any of their weapons, but were ready to strike should the order have been given.
+21
Two Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft prepare to depart RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, armed with Paveway IV laser guided bombs, in support of Operation Shader, on Saturday
+21
Britain at war: A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircrew prepares to depart RAF Akrotiri for an armed mission over Iraq
+21
A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircrew preparing to depart RAF Akrotiri Cyprus ahead of their first combat mission against Islamic State militants
+21
Servicemen stand near a British Tornado jet preparing to takeoff at RAF Akrotiri
+21
A British tornado fighter jet crew member stands on the jet at RAF Akrotiri
Earlier, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that RAF Tornados were flying over Iraq and were ready to be used in an attack role 'as and when appropriate targets are identified'.
This afternoon, an MoD spokesman said no suitable targets had been identified during the first mission, but that intelligence gathered by the Tornados will be 'invaluable' to the Iraqi authorities.
The spokesman added that sole presence of coalition warplanes would force the terrorists to be 'much more cautious'.
They said: 'Although on this occasion no targets were identified as requiring immediate air attack by our aircraft, the intelligence gathered by the Tornados' highly sophisticated surveillance equipment will be invaluable to the Iraqi authorities and their coalition partners in developing the best possible understanding of Isil's disposition.
We know that the very presence of coalition air power over Iraq has a significant impact on Isil's efforts to attack the Iraqi people.'With no effective defence against air strikes, and knowing the precision with which coalition aircraft can hit them, the terrorists are forced to be much more cautious, keeping their forces dispersed and movement inhibited.
'They also know that should they concentrate to deliver an attack against Iraqi or Kurdish troops, aircraft are likely to arrive overhead very soon afterwards.'
The two Tornados were armed with Paveway IV laser guided bombs, capable of taking out a small compound.
Each aircraft can carry a maximum of five Paveway bombs.
Six Tornado jets have been based in Cyprus since last month but have so far been restricted to reconnaissance flights.
+21
Servicemen walk near a British Tornado jet at RAF Akrotiri
+21
Britain's Air Force Tornado GR4s being armed with the Paveway IV Laser Guided Bomb at RAF Akrotiri
A Royal Navy hunter-killer nuclear submarine carrying Tomahawks is already in place in the region awaiting targets for attack
+21
An armed Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 (background) departing RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus as a Voyager Tanker (front) taxis for take off in support of Operation Shader on Saturday
+21
Firepower: Paveway IV laser guided bombs at RAF Akrotiri
+21
Each Tornado can carry a maximum of five Paveway bombs
+21
Mission-ready: A Tornado GR4 being armed with the Paveway IV
The submarines loiter offshore before going to depth to fire the Tomahawks which can cover more than 850 miles, can be retargeted in flight and can loiter above a target for more than two hours.
The RAF Tornados will fly missions aiming to 'decapitate' IS commanders, convoys of jihadists fighters and control bunkers during initial air operations over Iraq.
Special forces troops have been in the region identifying potential targets for weeks and will be asked to identify any areas where civilians are being used as human shields.
There are fears that IS will try to engineer large civilian casualities for propaganda purposes. More than 3,000 Yazidi women and hundreds of civilians are being held in Syria and Iraq by the group.
The RAF will operate over areas including Baghdad, the giant dams at Mosul and Haditha, the Sinjar mountains, the IS stronghold of Mosul and the cities of Irbil and Kirkuk.
+21
David Cameron, speaking on Saturday during a visit to a new housing estate in Didcot, described Britain's involvement in Operation Shader as helping to deal 'with this appalling terrorist organisation'
+21
The US-led coalition hit Islamic State group targets in Syria's central province of Homs for the first time Saturday as it pressed what Washington says are 'near continuous' strikes, a monitoring group said. Pictured are a pair of U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles returning from a bombing mission in Syria
+21
An F/A-18F Super Hornet lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, which is supporting U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on Islamic State group
+21
The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile to conduct strikes against ISIL targets as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush
Britain is at war: RAF Tornados in the air over Iraq with orders to strike ISIS as SAS teams on the ground prepare to guide arsenal of smart bombs to terrorists' lairs
RAF warplanes have completed their first mission over Iraq since Parliament gave the go-ahead for air strikes against Islamic State militants.
Two Tornado GR4 fighter bombers were seen returning to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus seven hours after they took off supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
Neither plane deployed any of their weapons, but were ready to strike should the order have been given.
+21
Two Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft prepare to depart RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, armed with Paveway IV laser guided bombs, in support of Operation Shader, on Saturday
+21
Britain at war: A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircrew prepares to depart RAF Akrotiri for an armed mission over Iraq
+21
A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircrew preparing to depart RAF Akrotiri Cyprus ahead of their first combat mission against Islamic State militants
+21
Servicemen stand near a British Tornado jet preparing to takeoff at RAF Akrotiri
+21
A British tornado fighter jet crew member stands on the jet at RAF Akrotiri
Earlier, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that RAF Tornados were flying over Iraq and were ready to be used in an attack role 'as and when appropriate targets are identified'.
This afternoon, an MoD spokesman said no suitable targets had been identified during the first mission, but that intelligence gathered by the Tornados will be 'invaluable' to the Iraqi authorities.
The spokesman added that sole presence of coalition warplanes would force the terrorists to be 'much more cautious'.
They said: 'Although on this occasion no targets were identified as requiring immediate air attack by our aircraft, the intelligence gathered by the Tornados' highly sophisticated surveillance equipment will be invaluable to the Iraqi authorities and their coalition partners in developing the best possible understanding of Isil's disposition.
We know that the very presence of coalition air power over Iraq has a significant impact on Isil's efforts to attack the Iraqi people.'With no effective defence against air strikes, and knowing the precision with which coalition aircraft can hit them, the terrorists are forced to be much more cautious, keeping their forces dispersed and movement inhibited.
'They also know that should they concentrate to deliver an attack against Iraqi or Kurdish troops, aircraft are likely to arrive overhead very soon afterwards.'
The two Tornados were armed with Paveway IV laser guided bombs, capable of taking out a small compound.
Each aircraft can carry a maximum of five Paveway bombs.
Six Tornado jets have been based in Cyprus since last month but have so far been restricted to reconnaissance flights.
+21
Servicemen walk near a British Tornado jet at RAF Akrotiri
+21
Britain's Air Force Tornado GR4s being armed with the Paveway IV Laser Guided Bomb at RAF Akrotiri
A Royal Navy hunter-killer nuclear submarine carrying Tomahawks is already in place in the region awaiting targets for attack
+21
An armed Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 (background) departing RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus as a Voyager Tanker (front) taxis for take off in support of Operation Shader on Saturday
+21
Firepower: Paveway IV laser guided bombs at RAF Akrotiri
+21
Each Tornado can carry a maximum of five Paveway bombs
+21
Mission-ready: A Tornado GR4 being armed with the Paveway IV
The submarines loiter offshore before going to depth to fire the Tomahawks which can cover more than 850 miles, can be retargeted in flight and can loiter above a target for more than two hours.
The RAF Tornados will fly missions aiming to 'decapitate' IS commanders, convoys of jihadists fighters and control bunkers during initial air operations over Iraq.
Special forces troops have been in the region identifying potential targets for weeks and will be asked to identify any areas where civilians are being used as human shields.
There are fears that IS will try to engineer large civilian casualities for propaganda purposes. More than 3,000 Yazidi women and hundreds of civilians are being held in Syria and Iraq by the group.
The RAF will operate over areas including Baghdad, the giant dams at Mosul and Haditha, the Sinjar mountains, the IS stronghold of Mosul and the cities of Irbil and Kirkuk.
+21
David Cameron, speaking on Saturday during a visit to a new housing estate in Didcot, described Britain's involvement in Operation Shader as helping to deal 'with this appalling terrorist organisation'
+21
The US-led coalition hit Islamic State group targets in Syria's central province of Homs for the first time Saturday as it pressed what Washington says are 'near continuous' strikes, a monitoring group said. Pictured are a pair of U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles returning from a bombing mission in Syria
+21
An F/A-18F Super Hornet lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, which is supporting U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on Islamic State group
+21
The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile to conduct strikes against ISIL targets as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush