The U.K. government has confirmed on Thursday that a Royal Air Force (RAF) Reaper drone strike killed a known ISIS terrorist in northwest Syria on February 25. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said the operation was part of Operation Shader, U.K.’s ongoing mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Armed @RoyalAirForce aerial reconnaissance patrols over Syria tracked down and engaged a Daesh terrorist target on 25th February.
The UK continues to work play a leading role in the global fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria through Operation SHADER. pic.twitter.com/o0ftuk1Unf
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 6, 2025
According to MOD, the Reaper drone tracked the individual across Aleppo Governorate, maintaining close surveillance to ensure there was minimal risk to civilians. Once the terrorist was alone on foot, the Reaper launched an AGM-114 Hellfire missile, successfully eliminating the target.
The MQ-9A Reaper, operated by the Royal Air Force’s 13 and 39 Squadrons, is a highly capable remotely piloted air system designed for long-endurance intelligence gathering and precision strikes.
While Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government did not directly authorize the strike, he had previously confirmed support for Operation Shader, allowing military commanders to act under established rules of engagement.
Despite losing territorial control in 2019, ISIS remains a persistent insurgent threat. Concerns persist that the group may regroup in Syria amid the ongoing transition under Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government.
The U.K. last confirmed launching a strike in Syria on June 18, 2024, during Rishi Sunak’s tenure as prime minister.
