Britain is at war: RAF Tornados are in the air over Iraq with orders to strike ISIS - and SAS are on the ground to guide in the bombs

[superbeets]

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

• Two armed RAF Tornados took off from their base in Cyprus today
• They were armed with 500lb Paveway IV laser guided bombs
• They will fly missions aiming to 'decapitate' IS commanders
• SAS troops have been in the region identifying potential targets for weeks
• Britain has bought 20 Tomahawk missiles from the US for its campaign
• David Cameron described UK involvement as critical to home security

 

[superbeets]

The RAF is flying bombing missions over Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
Two armed RAF Tornado aircraft, plus a refuelling aircraft, took off from their base in Cyprus today to target Isis terrorists.
The Ministry of Defence said in a statement: 'We can confirm that, following parliamentary approval given yesterday, RAF Tornados continue to fly over Iraq and are now ready to be used in an attack role as and when appropriate targets are identified.
'For operational security reasons we will not be providing a running commentary on movements; we will provide an update on activity when it is appropriate to do so.'

 

[superbeets]

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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

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Britain at war: A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircrew prepares to depart RAF Akrotiri for an armed mission over Iraq

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A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircrew preparing to depart RAF Akrotiri Cyprus ahead of their first combat mission against Islamic State militants

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Servicemen stand near a British Tornado jet preparing to takeoff at RAF Akrotiri

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A British tornado fighter jet crew member stands on the jet at RAF Akrotiri

 

[superbeets]

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.
Prime Minister David Cameron has described U.K. involvement as critical to security on home soil, arguing that facing down terrorists has become a matter of urgency. He says the hallmarks of the campaign would be 'patience and persistence, not shock and awe.'
Independent Defence Analyst Paul Beaver told MailOnline that the missions over Iraq aren't without risk.
He said: 'Isis do have the capability to hit aircraft, as they have surface-to-air missiles and heavy machine guns. But the West is using precision weapons at range such as the Storm Shadow. They're not capable of countering those sorts of precision weapons.'

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Servicemen walk near a British Tornado jet at RAF Akrotiri

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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

 

[superbeets]

Meanwhile, Britain has bought 20 Tomahawk missiles from the US in preparation for its bombing campaign.
Costing £1million each, they are fired from submarines and can be computer-programmed to turn corners.
They have already been fired in the Gulf by the US and are likely to be among the first weapons used by the British military in Operation Shader.
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.

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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

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Firepower: Paveway IV laser guided bombs at RAF Akrotiri

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Mission-ready: A Tornado GR4 being armed with the Paveway IV

 

[superbeets]

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.
The UK's air war will be run from a bunker on the giant al-Udeid airbase in Qatar and linked directly to US Central Command. Targets will be chosen from a list drawn-up by the US military but it is likely the UK jets will also be used to survey the ground for mobile IS units before being instructed to strike.

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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

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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

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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

 

[superbeets]

Special Forces units known as Smash teams have carried out reconnaissance to provide up-to-date information on the jihadistss.
In some attacks, they will use a process called 'painting a target' to pinpoint a site to be struck. A laser beam from a portable device is bounced off a building or military installation from a few hundred yards – this is detected by the aircraft or a missile sensor, which then deploys the weapon.
The Tornados, veterans of both Gulf Wars and Afghanistan, will be armed with Paveway bombs to target small compounds, Storm Shadow bunker busters and supersonic Brimstone missiles that can hit moving targets such as people in cars or on motorbikes.
British naval assets being used in the operation include HMS Defender, a state-of-the-art £1billion destroyer thought to be providing protection for USS George HW Bush, and attack submarine HMS Astute.
Said by the Royal Navy to be 'more complex than the Space Shuttle', Astute began operations this year and is capable of firing Tomahawk missiles.
The US-led coalition hit Islamic State group targets in Syria's central province of Homs for the first time on Saturday as it pressed what Washington says are 'near continuous' strikes, a monitoring group said.
The coalition also targeted IS, also known as Isis, in the town of Minbej, east of second city Aleppo, for the first time, as well as multiple targets in the jihadist heartland province of Raqa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said the targets hit in Homs province were far away from the front line with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, who control Homs city, Syria's third largest.

 

[superbeets]

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British naval assets being used in Operation Shader include HMS Defender, a state-of-the-art £1billion destroyer thought to be providing protection for USS George HW Bush

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Attack submarine HMS Astute, said by the Royal Navy to be 'more complex than the Space Shuttle', may be used to launch Tomahawk missiles against Isis

 

[superbeets]

'The US-Arab coalition has for the first time struck IS bases in the eastern desert of Homs province,' Abdel Rahman said, adding that the positions were in the area of Al-Hammad, east of ancient city Palmyra.
Washington has been keen not to let Assad's forces exploit the air campaign against IS to take the upper hand in the more than three-year-old civil war.
In eastern Aleppo province - the western limit of IS control - the coalition hit several jihadist targets in Minbej, said the Observatory, which relies on a broad network of activists and doctors for its reports.
Further east, the coalition pounded the city of Raqa, which the jihadists have made their headquarters, the Britain-based group said.
'At least 31 explosions were heard in Raqa city and its surroundings.'
The operation against Isis also now includes Belgium and Denmark.
Denmark pledged seven F-16 fighter jets. Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said her government would send four operational planes and three reserve jets along with 250 pilots and support staff for 12 months.
Belgium said that it would contribute six F-16 fighter jets to the operation, but would limit their deployment to Iraq.

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Belgian F-16 fighter jets prepare to take off from their base in Florennes on Friday

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A Belgian F-16 fighter jet prepares to take off to join the international coalition fighting the Islamic State

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[superbeets]

[h=3]U.S. Military, Partner Nations Conduct Airstrikes Against ISIL in Iraq and Syria[/h]From a U.S. Central Command News Release
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Friday and today, using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes. Separately, U.S. military forces used attack aircraft to conduct three airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.
In Syria, an ISIL vehicle was destroyed south of Al-Hasakah. Also near Al-Hasakah several buildings that were part of an ISIL garrison were destroyed. An ISIL command and control facility near Manbij was damaged. An ISIL building and two armed vehicles at the Kobani border crossing were destroyed. An ISIL held airfield, an ISIL garrison and an ISIL training camp near Ar Raqqah were damaged.
To conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy attack and fighter aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. In addition, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates also participated in these strikes. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.
In Iraq, three airstrikes southwest of Irbil destroyed four ISIL armed vehicles and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.
The strikes were conducted as part of the President's comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.

 

[JDeuce]

Good. May God watch over these brave soldiers as they confront pure evil.

We have only two choices for how to handle these sick ass maniacs AFAIC: pound them into submission, or completely exterminate them. That's it...there is no middle ground.

It becomes more complicated when these fucking cowards are taking a page out of the Hamas playbook by using the Syrian population as human shields and try to blend in as civilians during war time. We're going to need solid intel before ultimately sending in ground troops...hopefully with help from other nations...

 

[GasMan]

That is some bad ass equipment

 

[Seymour]

these twisted fucks truly believe that if they die in "holy war" they are guranteed a spot in Heaven - but if they die at the hands of a female they door to God's kingdom is closed - every plane flown should have female in the cock pit

 

[ballerhanz]

ISIS sucks.

 

[ScottL]

ISIS sucks.

Well she sure used to!
http://www.xvideos.com/video2268862/isis_nile_nurse

 

[ballerhanz]

Lol I literally roflchoptered. Well played good sir, well played.

 

[superbeets]

[h=3]U.S., Partners Continue Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq[/h]From a U.S. Central Command News Release
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 29, 2014 – U.S. and partner-nation military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria yesterday and today, using a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct eight airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
Separately, U.S. military forces used attack and remotely piloted aircraft yesterday and today to conduct three airstrikes in Iraq, officials added.
In Syria, one airstrike near Dayr ar Zawr destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle, and another destroyed an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery transport vehicle. U.S. and partner nations conducted two airstrikes on an ISIL compound and an ISIL-held airfield in northwest Syria near Aleppo.
Two airstrikes were conducted on ISIL compounds near Raqqah, and two more struck an ISIL training camp and ISIL vehicles in a staging area next to an ISIL-held grain storage facility near Manbij that ISIL was using as a logistics hub and vehicle staging facility.
Assessments are underway on the outcome of these attacks, but initial indications are that they were successful, officials said.
To conduct these strikes, the United States employed U.S. Air Force aircraft deployed to the Centcom area of responsibility, officials said. The United Arab Emirates and Jordan also participated in these strikes, they added, and all aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
In Iraq, an airstrike near Kirkuk destroyed two ISIL vehicles, and another near Sinjar destroyed two ISIL armed vehicles. One strike against an ISIL armed vehicle in northwestern Iraq was unsuccessful. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely, officials said.

 

[superbeets]

[h=3]U.S., Partners’ Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq[/h]From a U.S. Central Command News Release
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 30, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria yesterday and today using a mix of attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 11 airstrikes.
Separately, U.S. military forces used attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft today to conduct 11 airstrikes in Iraq.
In Syria, two airstrikes near Dayr ar Zawr destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle and an ISIL armed vehicle. Five strikes in northeast Syria near Sinjar destroyed one ISIL artillery piece, one ISIL tank, three ISIL armed vehicles, two ISIL facilities, an ISIL observation post and struck four ISIL fighting positions. Three strikes near Mazra al Duwud near the Syrian-Turkish border destroyed one ISIL artillery piece, damaged another, and destroyed two ISIL rocket launchers. One strike northeast of Aleppo destroyed four ISIL-occupied buildings. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
In Iraq, seven airstrikes in northwest Iraq destroyed one ISIL armored vehicle, two ISIL transport vehicles, and four ISIL armed vehicles and damaged one. In the vicinity of Mosul Dam, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL armed vehicle. Northwest of Baghdad, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle while another strike in west Fallujah struck an ISIL checkpoint. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
The strikes were conducted as part of the president's comprehensive strategy to degrade and destroy ISIL. The destruction and degradation of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to lead, control, project power and conduct operations.

 

[superbeets]

[h=3]Airstrikes Against ISIL Require Patience, Precision, Official Says[/h]By Amaani Lyle
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2014 – In ongoing efforts to degrade and destroy terrorist forces from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the United States and partner nations have conducted another round of airstrikes against fixed and mobile targets in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Adm. John Kirby said today.
The overnight airstrikes totaled more than 20 and were fairly evenly divided between Iraq and Syria, Kirby said.
“We're delighted to be joined in these efforts in Iraq today by the British, who conducted two precision strikes against ISIL targets in the northwest part of the country in support of Kurdish units who are in contact with the enemy,” Kirby said.
The admiral added that the U.S. and its coalition partners have conducted nearly 310 attacks from the air, with more than 230 of them in Iraq and the remaining 76 in Syria.
And he noted one fundamental difference between the U.S. and its partner nations and ISIL: concern for civilians.
“We must choose, we must discriminate between targets that matter more to us in space and time than others and … those that run higher risk of collateral damage or civilian casualties,” Kirby said. “We care about preserving life -- we’re willing to be careful and patient and precise, even if that means having to wait for them to make a mistake or to make themselves more vulnerable.”
Kirby reported that the campaign’s targets range from the area around Baghdad west to Fallujah and across north central Iraq to Mosul. Syria’s east and north near the borders with Turkey and Iraq -- from Aleppo to Raqqah -- are also being targeted.
“When we say we’re going to after them, we mean it,” Kirby said. “But … while we continue to hit them where they are, it doesn’t mean that we can or even that we should hit them everywhere they are at every moment.”
The admiral also acknowledged military action alone will not win the effort, but he asserts that it should not be taken as an admission of ineffectiveness.
“One of the ways we know we’re having an effect is precisely because the terrorists have had to change their tactics … communications and command and control,” Kirby said. “If they aren’t operating as freely, then they aren’t as free to achieve their goals.”
But ISIL remains a threat, he added, as evidenced by their occasional successes in taking and holding ground.
“No one should be lulled into a false sense of security by accurate airstrikes,” the admiral said. “We will not, we cannot bomb them into obscurity.”

 

[superbeets]

[h=3]More Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria and Iraq[/h]DoD News, Defense Media Activity
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 1, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria yesterday and today using a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct three airstrikes.
Separately, U.S. military forces and a partner nation used a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft yesterday and today to conduct five airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.
In Syria, three strikes near Kobani destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle, an ISIL artillery piece, and an ISIL tank. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
In Iraq, three strikes northwest of Mosul destroyed two ISIL armed vehicles, destroyed an ISIL occupied building, and struck two ISIL fighting positions. One strike in the vicinity of Haditha Dam destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle while another strike northwest of Baghdad destroyed two armed vehicles.
To conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fighter aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. In addition, the United Kingdom also participated in the Iraq airstrikes. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
The strikes were conducted as part of the President's comprehensive strategy to degrade and destroy ISIL. The destruction and degradation of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to lead, control, project power and conduct operations.