RAF strikes on IS ‘killed or injured 4,315 jihadis and caused just one civilian fatality’

RAF strikes on death cult Islamic State killed and injured 4,315 jihadis – and caused just one civilian fatality, the MoD yesterday claimed.

According to figures released yesterday of the 4,315 hit with bombs and missiles, 4,013 were killed (93 per cent) while 302 (7 per cent) survived with injuries.

The figures cover the entire campaign so far – named Operation Shader - from September 2014 to January this year.

They were obtained by a Freedom of Information request by the campaign group Action on Armed Violence.

Experts poured scorn on claims the RAF only killed one innocent by accident amidst the relentless blitz - comprising nearly 2,000 strikes.

AOAV executive director Iain Overton said: “The RAF’s claim of a ratio of one civilian casualty against 4,315 enemies must be a world record in modern conflict.

“Yet few conflict experts believe this to be true.

“The MoD notes in the FoI released information that ‘information concerning enemy killed and wounded in action is based on the best available post-strike analysis’.

“This information, however, is only given as an estimate as the UK is not in a position to visit airstrike sites inside Syria and verify the facts.

“To them, it is clear that far more needs to be done by the UK to improve transparency surrounding civilian casualties from airstrikes. Its coalition partner the US has committed to such, so why not the UK?”

The RAF’s claim of a ratio of one civilian casualty against 4,315 enemies must be a world record in modern conflict.

Iain Overton, AOAV Executive Director

The lone civilian killed by accident died at the hands of an RAF Reaper drone in eastern Syria on March 26 last year.

The individual was “unintentionally” obliterated after riding a motor bike into the blast zone at the last moment.

Three IS fighters, who were driving in the Syrian Euphrates valley at the time, were also killed by the precision Hellfire missile.

It is understood the MoD has carried out more than 1,700 strikes during the campaign – now in its final days.

They suggest in total, 75 per cent of those estimated to have been killed or injured were in Iraq with 25 per cent in Syria.

Of all enemies estimated killed and wounded by the RAF, 37 per cent were by Typhoon war jets, 31 per cent by Tornados and 32 per cent by Reaper drones.

Post-strike analysis is conducted by air crew after firing their weapons - using live images from thousands of feet up in the air.

But critics say without having personnel on the ground it is near impossible to really know how many died – especially when taking out buildings and vehicles.

An MoD spokeswoman, said: “After every British airstrike we conduct detailed battle damage assessment, which thoroughly examines the outcome of the strike against its target, be it Daesh fighters, weapons, or bases.

“This assessment also looks very carefully at whether or not there has been any civilian casualty or damage to civilian infrastructure.”

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