Operation Shader

Operation Shader
Part of the War against the Islamic State, the US-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021), the US intervention in the Syrian civil war and the Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war
A Typhoon FGR4 flies over Iraq on 22 December 2015.
Date 9 August 2014–present Location Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Lebanon Status British airstrikes and ground support against IS in Iraq and Syria Recapture of all IS-held territory in Iraq by 10 December 2017 Complete military defeat of IS in Syria on 23 March 2019 Numerous IS leaders killed Multiple terrorist acts committed by IS in London and Manchester leading to 34 deaths
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Andy Burnham Wes Streeting Rich Knighton Allan Marshall Gp Capt Guy Lefroy Former David Cameron Theresa May Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak Keir Starmer Michael Fallon Gavin Williamson Penny Mordaunt Ben Wallace Amber Rudd Sajid Javid Priti Patel Suella Braverman Nick Houghton Stuart Peach Nick Carter Tony Radakin Peter Wall Nick Carter Mark Carleton-Smith Mark Poffley Nick Pope Christopher Tickell Glenn Haughton Gavin Paton George Zambellas Philip Jones Tony Radakin Andrew Pulford Stephen Hillier Michael Wigston Charles Stickland Nick Perry Graeme Spark Clive Martland Jon Crossley Jake Alpert	Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (caliph of IS) Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi † Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi † Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi † Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi † Abu Alaa Afri † Abu Suleiman al-Naser † Abu Ali al-Anbari † Abu Omar al-Shishani †
Units involved
Royal Air Force British Army Royal Navy	Military of the Islamic State
Strength
See Deployed forces	9,000–18,000 (U.S. intelligence estimate, January 2015) 20,000–31,500 (CIA estimate, September 2014) * 850 British jihadists
Casualties and losses
3 servicemen killed (2 non-combat) 2 servicemen wounded 8 volunteer SDF fighters killed 2 volunteer aid workers murdered 1 journalist missing	4,066 killed, 303 injured (per UK, 2021)

Operation Shader is the operational code name given to the contribution of the United Kingdom in its war against the Islamic State. The operation involved the British Army providing ground support and training to allied forces fighting against IS, the Royal Air Force providing humanitarian aid airdrops, reconnaissance and airstrikes, and the Royal Navy providing reconnaissance and airstrikes from the UK carrier strike group and escort to allied carrier battle groups. Additionally, British special forces had reportedly operated in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.

In January 2019, the Ministry of Defence stated that 1,700 British airstrikes so far had killed or injured 4,315 enemy fighters in Iraq and Syria, with one civilian casualty. The RAF had also delivered £230 million worth of humanitarian aid. Overall, the operation had resulted in a net cost of £1.75 billion. The number of airstrikes carried out in Iraq and Syria has been second only to the United States, with a report that the RAF has conducted 20 percent of all airstrikes. The operation became the most intense flying mission the RAF had undertaken in 25 years.

On 28 September 2024, the Ministry of Defence announced that British jets would cease strike operations over Iraq and Syria following the conclusion of the Global Coalition's military mission against IS, which would draw to a close over the next 12 months. However, the RAF resumed operations against IS, reflecting the coalition's assessment that the threat persisted and required ongoing military pressure.