Britain ‘causing chaos’ by jamming ISIS jihadis’ mobiles and disrupting their computer networks
News of cyber strikes emerged as the air and ground war against Islamic State gathered pace
BRIT spooks have launched cyber strikes on Islamic State maniacs for the first time – causing “havoc” in the murderous ranks holding Mosul.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon confirmed the bombshell news to The Sun as the air and ground war gathered pace.
Insiders said keyboard warriors have been "jamming" IS communications, “down the wire” from their HQ at the UK’s listening station GCHQ, in Cheltenham.
The assaults – the first ever against IS by the UK – are disrupting IS commanders ability to marshal the 5,000 forces holding Iraq’s second city Mosul.
Defence Secretary Fallon, speaking at a Cyber conference hosted by think tank RUSI in London, said: “I’m not going into operational specifics, but yes, you know we are conducting military operations against Daesh as part of the international coalition.
“And I can confirm that we are using offensive cyber for the first time in this campaign.”
Sources said UK based spooks launched the first salvo last month and have “successfully” been jamming phone and computer networks.
Adding: “The cyber strikes are causing disarray and seriously hampering IS commanders’ ability to give orders and move troops around as they attempt to defend Mosul.
“It’s causing havoc in the ranks, commanders can’t give orders, imagine trying to defend a city in that way?
“It just sows confusion and is giving Iraqi and Peshmerga forces the upper hand on the ground.
“And it shows the breadth and reach of what the UK can do in the Cyber warfare realm.”
Fallon revealed the new cyberspace offensive while announcing the UK is to invest £265m to boost the UK’s own cyber defences to repel attacks from Russian and Chinese hackers.
He said: “The more reliant we are on electronic networks the more vulnerable we are to cyber attack.
“Our cyber adversaries can target us anywhere on the planet.
“The UK is a world leader in cyber security, and we recognise that cyber risk is one of the greatest threats we face in the modern world.
“It is crucial that we innovate and stay ahead of this ever changing danger."
But added: “It must be about our offense too.
“It is important that our adversaries know there is a price to pay if they use cyber weapons against us, and that we have the capability to project power in cyberspace as elsewhere.”
News of the UK cyber attack on IS came as the offensive to liberate Mosul, which began on Monday, gathers pace.
The city – home to 1.5m civilians - has been gripped since 2014 by IS henchmen and is the militants last major Iraqi stronghold.
Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi said the mission was progressing faster than planned.
RAF jets and Reaper drones have been bombing from the skies since the beginning of the assault while US Special Forces are believed to be aiding the offensive on the ground.