RAF Reaper drone conducts successful strike against IS fighter in Syrian desert

The RAF has used a remotely piloted Reaper drone to carry out a strike against a known IS fighter in Syria.

In an update, the RAF said it used the Reaper, which was armed with Hellfire missiles, to track an IS fighter in the Syrian desert.

The update said the Reaper's crew "conducted a successful strike" on the individual.

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Hellfire missiles are precision-guided munitions for air-to-ground strikes that usually cause significant damage.

The missiles, made by Lockheed Martin, are capable of taking down whole buildings.

The strike in Syria comes as part of Operation Shader, the UK's mission against the so-called Islamic State in the Middle East.

The mission has been running since 2014. The first combat missions were flown from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The RAF said it continues to fly regular armed reconnaissance patrols as part of the coalition efforts to make sure the remaining elements of IS cannot re-establish themselves in Syria or Iraq.

The first combat missions were flown from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in September 2014 and named Operation Shader, the UK's contribution to the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve.

Reaper is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (Istar), and attack missions.

The remotely piloted aircraft have a wingspan of almost 70ft (21.12m) and can fly for more than 12 hours whilst carrying weapons.

The Reaper fleet is being replaced by the new Protector drones.

Protector is expected to take over operations from Reaper next year.