“ISLAMIC STATE STILL ABLE TO CARRY OUT LETHAL ATTACKS”
The Foreign Secretary told the Commons: “The safety and the security of our citizens is obviously the Government’s highest priority, it is at the core of our work in tackling Daesh which remains our most significant terrorist threat – both at home and abroad.”
Mr Raab told MPs “the Global Coalition Against Daesh estimates that there are still around 10,000 Daesh members at large across Syria and Iraq”, adding: “So support for Daesh still lingers on in many communities. At the same time, while Iraq and Syria remain Daesh’s primary focus, it also presents a clear and growing global threat.”
He continued: “So diminishing Daesh’s ability to operate in other parts of the world, including Africa and Asia, must also be a priority for the international community. We must not allow it to take roots elsewhere.”
Mr Raab added: “I can report to the House that on 11 February a coalition surveillance aircraft located a number of Daesh fighters – they were occupying two dispersed encampments on the banks of the Tharthar River, west of the city of Bayji.
“Two UK Typhoon FGR4s conducted careful checks of the surrounding area for civilians before carrying out simultaneous attacks using two Paveway IV guided bombs against each group. The bombs hit their targets within the encampments, eliminating the terrorist threat.”
