RAF Involvement In Fight Against Islamic State Could Be Scaled Back

The outgoing UK Air Component Commander has predicted British jets involved in Op Shader could be drawdown in the next four to six months as the campaign is now “in the end game”.

For the past 12 months Air Commodore Johnny Stringer has lead the RAF’s contributions to the US-led multinational coalition tasked with ridding Daesh from Iraq and Syria, he said:

"That is not to say it is over, that is not to say there won't be some hard fighting and some slightly difficult fighting perhaps to come.

"I would see us being able to do something in that area, certainly in the next six and probably even the next four months or so.”

RAF Typhoon and Tornado jets as well as Reaper drones have carried out over 1,600 strikes over the three-year period of the operation.

The RAF has also provided essential capabilities such surveillance, reconnaissance and refuelling missions.

The UK military group have been targeting weapon stores, truck bombs, snipers, heavy machine-gun positions and mortar teams as part of the international push to eradicate Daesh.

The coalition say 90% of Iraq and Syria once held by Daesh has now been liberated with 5.6 million people being freed from their control. 

Speaking at a press conference in the UK, Air Commodore Johnny Stringer said:

"And I think it is almost sensible to acknowledge that Daesh will almost certainly morph into an insurgent organisation and try and launch an effective, in their eyes, insurgent campaign."

"I think we will still need an element of manned strike jet as well. But I am hopefully we may see the ability to draw down elements of that final bit.

"Because frankly the tempo of our operations is going to reduce as Daesh are beaten in Iraq and Syria."

This week Syria's military declared victory over the Islamic State group in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, describing it as the "last phase" in its push towards the complete annihilation of IS.