RAF drones have killed almost 1,500 IS fighters in past eight years
RAF drones have blasted almost 1,500 IS fighters in the last eight years, figures obtained by The Sun on Sunday reveal.
The force’s MQ-9 Reaper aircraft have flown hundreds of missions over Iraq and Syria since 2014, piloted by crews based at RAF Waddington, Lincs.
They unleash the aircraft’s 500lb laser-guided bombs or Hellfire missile systems.
The RAF has flown a total of 4,857 drone sorties in the region, resulting in an estimated 1,413 enemy fighters being killed or injured.
The toll — revealed in a Freedom of Information request — is an estimate by experts who study mission reports and aerial shots of the debris.
High-profile targets wiped out by drones include Jihadi John Brit Mohammed Emwazi in 2015, who was involved in beheading hostages.
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And the White Widow — Brit Sally Jones who operated as a recruiter and propagandist — was killed in 2017.
Britain has ordered a new fleet of state of the art “Protector” drones, which will be based at RAF Waddington from next year.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned they could be used in Afghanistan if terrorists gather there after the Taliban seized back control.
He said: “I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect British citizens’ lives and our interests and our allies.”
