BRITAIN has been urged to cease its military air and drone operations over Iraq and Syria today on the 10th anniversary of Operation Shader, the country’s deployment of troops to counter Isis.

Drone Wars highlighted that most other countries involved in the air strikes ceased their operations after Isis was militarily defeated in March 2019. 

But it says that US and British daily sorties continue in the region, with Britain’s most recent air strike taking place in Syria on June 18 2024.

It argues that indefinite military deployments with unclear goals raise the risk of British forces being drawn into further conflicts, with aircraft on the mission recently deployed to counter an Iranian attack on Israel.

Drone Wars director Chris Cole also warned that “growing tension between the US and Iran, as well as climate change, which has brought incredibly high temperatures and water scarcity” poses a significant threat to the people of Iraq. 

Mr Cole said that instead the Operation Shader anniversary should be “taken as an opportunity” to cease the ongoing military operation.