Sir Keir ordered drone hit on top ISIS general

UK FORCES eliminated a top Islamic State commander in Syria in a targeted drone strike, as more than 3,000 insurgents prepare for a summer offensive against the country’s new regime.

- By Marco Giannangeli

The RAF operation followed a series of terror attacks in the capital Damascus, where president Ahmad al-Sharaa hosted Foreign Secretary David Lammy last weekend.

Mr Lammy’s trip — the first by a British minister to Syria in 14 years - formed part of a broader UK effort to stabilise al-Sharaa’s six-month regime and offset any return of Russian or Iranian influence.

Whitehall sources said the UK is considering a security and stabilisation package, possibly including reconstruction support and military training.

While the US and UK back al-Sharaa’s Islamist HTS government, Islamic State has vowed to fight for a Syrian caliphate, recruiting thousands of fighters from Iraq.

Preventing this would help safeguard al-Sharaa’s position and avert a fresh wave of migration that would drive up illegal Channel crossings.

As part of Operation Shader, RAF aircraft continue armed reconnaissance over Syria, ready to strike IS leaders when identified.