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 by Staff Writers London (AFP) Sept 17, 2015
British air strikes in Iraq have killed around 330 Islamic State (IS) group fighters since they began in September 2014, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement on Thursday. "The estimated number of IS fighters killed as a result of UK strikes from September 2014 to 31 August 2015 is around 330," the minister said, in response to a question from Green Party MP Caroline Lucas. "We do not believe there have been any civilian casualties as a result of UK strike activity," he added in the reply, which was published on parliament's official website. Britain currently has eight Tornado GR4 fighters and several Reaper drones conducting strikes, as well as a Sentinel and an Airseeker -- both surveillance craft. Fallon confirmed in August that Britain had carried out more than 250 air strikes in Iraq. Britain announced last month it was extending its air strikes against IS group targets in Iraq by a year to March 2017. The announcement represents a second reprieve for the squadron of ageing Tornado GR4 fighter bombers currently based in Cyprus which was due to be disbanded first this year and then next, and will now be kept on. "We want to ensure we maintain this crucial operational tempo and so we will extend the lifetime of Number 12 Squadron for a further year to March 2017," Fallon told the BBC during a visit to Baghdad last year. The Tornado jets are carrying out air strikes, reconnaissance and surveillance over Iraq as part of US-led operations. Britain is not currently taking part in air strikes on targets in Syria, although it was announced last week that an Royal Air Force (RAF) drone over the country had killed a British jihadist planning attacks on Britain. In 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to join international military action in Syria was defeated by the House of Commons due to opposition from the Labour party. Prime Minister David Cameron is now mulling a second vote to gain support for Syria strikes this year. He hopes the new Labour chief could give him the support needed to get the move through the House of Commons, where he has a majority of only 12. Parliament approved the Iraq air strikes last September.
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