A British Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4.
(Reuters/Darren Staples)
WANmahani - Pengebom Tornado daripada Tentera Udara Diraja
Britain (RAF) telah melakukan serangan pertama mereka terhadap Negara Islam di
Iraq, menurut Kementerian Pertahanan (MoD).
"Tindakan ini adalah sebahagian daripada
operasi gabungan antarabangsa untuk menyokong kerajaan Iraq yang
demokratik," kata MoD dalam satu kenyataan.
"Dalam perjalanan misi peninjau bersenjata dari
RAF Akrotiri, dua Tornados telah ditugaskan untuk membantu tentera Kurdish di
utara-barat Iraq yang berada di bawah serangan dari Isil (Isis)
pengganas," kata kenyataan itu diteruskan.
2 pesawat Tornado GR4 telah digunakan, yang kini
berpangkalan di RAF Akrotiri di Cyprus. The Tornado adalah semua-cuaca hari dan
malam pengebom pejuang, yang telah digunakan oleh RAF sejak tahun 1980-an dan
kini menjadi panjang sedikit di dalam gigi.
Menurut kenyataan itu, rondaan yang dikenal pasti
kedudukan senjata berat yang dimiliki oleh Negara Islam (ISIS/Isil) yang
menyerang tentera Kurdish di kawasan itu.
Pesawat menggunakan bom berpandu Paveway IV dan
belerang anti-perisai peluru berpandu untuk mengambil kedudukan, serta trak
pick-up satu bersenjata.
Sehingga kini, RAF Tornados telah terhad kepada
terbang misi peninjauan ke atas Iraq, dan hanya mula rondaan bersenjata selepas
parlimen UK bersetuju untuk membenarkan tindakan ketenteraan terhadap ISIS pada
hari Jumaat.
UK Setiausaha Pertahanan Michael Fallon telah
berkata bahawa pesawat RAF boleh terlibat dalam pengeboman ISIS selama
bertahun-tahun akan datang.
Walaupun terdapat keraguan meluas keberkesanan
serangan udara, Perdana Menteri, David Cameron menegaskan bahawa mereka adalah
penting dalam kemusnahan masa depan garis keras kumpulan Islamis, sambil
menambah bahawa alat yg paling penting dlm memerangi Negara Islam adalah
lebih baik bersenjata Kurdish pejuang Peshmerga dan lebih terlatih tentera
Iraq.
UK jets launch first
Attacks against ISIS in IRAQ . . .
Tornado bombers from Britain’s Royal Air Force
(RAF) have carried out their first attacks against the Islamic State in Iraq,
according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
"This action is part of the international
coalition’s operations to support the democratic Iraqi government," the
MoD said in a statement.
“In the course of an armed reconnaissance mission
from RAF Akrotiri, two Tornados were tasked to assist Kurdish troops in
north-west Iraq who were under attack from Isil (Isis) terrorists,” the
statement continued.
Two Tornado GR4 aircraft were used, which are now
based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The Tornado is an all-weather day and night
fighter bomber, which has been in use by the RAF since the 1980s and is now
becoming a little long in the tooth.
According to the statement, the patrol identified a
heavy weapon position belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), which was
attacking Kurdish forces in the area.
The planes used a Paveway IV guided bomb and a
Brimstone anti-armor missile to take out the position, as well as an armed
pick-up truck.
Until now, RAF Tornados have been limited to flying
reconnaissance missions over Iraq, and only began armed patrols after the UK
parliament agreed to authorize military action against ISIS on Friday.
UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has said that
RAF planes could be engaged in bombing ISIS for years to come.
Although there is widespread skepticism of the
effectiveness of airstrikes, Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted that
they are crucial in the future destruction of the hardline Islamist group,
adding that the most important tools in the fight against the Islamic State are
better armed Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and better trained Iraqi troops.
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