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Britain doubles number of warplanes in fight against IS

Source: Xinhua | December 6, 2015, Sunday | Online Edition

BRITISH Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Saturday that the deployment of Typhoons and two further Tornados would double the number of British fighter jets taking the fight against Daesh, also known as the Islamic State (IS).

Daesh terrorists have again been struck by British Royal Air Force aircraft, with Typhoon fighters jets used for the first time in bombing missions over Syria and Iraq, according to British Ministry of Defense (MoD).

During the evening of Dec. 4, Tornado GR4s and Typhoon FGR4s, based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, conducted a further series of strikes on targets in the very large Daesh-controlled oilfield at Omar in eastern Syria, MoD said Saturday in a statement.

"The Tornados and Typhoons used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit wellheads, thus cutting off the terrorists' oil revenue at the very source. Eight attacks were carried out, and early reports suggest that they were successful," the statement said.

The ministry claimed British capabilities currently gather 60 percent of the Coalition's tactical reconnaissance in Iraq and 30 percent of the intelligence in Syria, with over 800 personnel supporting operations in the campaign to degrade Daesh.

Since coalition air operations began last year, the RAF base at Akrotiri has been home to extensive air capabilities, including Tornado GR4s, Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft, C130 transport aircraft, and Sentinel surveillance aircraft, according to the MoD statement.

Britain launched airstrikes against IS targets in Syria just hours after its Parliament approved a government proposal to extend military action from Iraq to Syria.

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