UK Throws Its Military Weight Behind Kurdish Peshmerga

With the Iraqi Army struggling to counter the push by Islamic State towards Baghdad the UK military has been throwing its weight behind the Kurdish peshmerga forces.

Fighting in the north of Iraq they have made significant gains driving the militants out of key towns and away from cities such as Kirkuk.

Backed by reconnaissance and bombing missions by RAF and other coalition aircraft, operations this week have focused on terrorist targets around the important oil-producing city of Bayji.

RAF Tornado GR4s have dropped at least 15 Paveway IV precision guided bombs - taking out IS fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades and two heavy machine-gun positions, all of which were engaged in fighting the peshmerga.

Military instructors from the UK are also taking a prominent role in training both Kurdish and Iraqi forces, including in the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Islamic State is increasingly favouring the use of IEDs as it's pushed out of previously held territory.

Reaper drones have also been in operation in the last few days, scoring hits on Islamic State vehicles with Hellfire missiles. 

RAF surveillance aircraft - Rivet Joint, Sentinel and Sentry - continue to provide extensive reconnaissance support to all the coalition partners.