An RAF Voyager tanker has conducted a mid-air refuelling of two French fighter jets as part of a joint surveillance mission in the Middle East, underscoring continued UK-French military cooperation in the region.
The operation forms part of the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve, the international coalition targeting ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The UK’s contribution, known as Operation Shader, is set to conclude later this year after more than a decade of RAF engagement in the region.
During the mission, the Voyager supported two French jets in mid-air refuelling, allowing them to extend their patrols over areas of strategic interest. RAF crews have operated alongside coalition forces for years, providing reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes against extremist targets.
Since Operation Shader began, RAF aircraft have flown more than 10,000 sorties and struck around 1,400 targets in Iraq and Syria. Typhoon jets have conducted numerous airstrikes, while Reaper drone crews have carried out precision strikes, including a June operation targeting an ISIS operative in north-western Syria.
Operation Inherent Resolve, launched in 2014, continues to bring together 87 coalition partners, including the UK and France, to stabilise the region and counter threats posed by ISIS extremists. The mission’s focus has included disrupting terrorist networks, supporting local security forces, and gathering intelligence critical to ongoing operations.
The Middle East remains volatile, particularly after the collapse of the Syrian government in December 2024, which left large areas of the country unstable and vulnerable to extremist activity. RAF operations have been vital in providing a stabilising presence and ensuring coalition forces can respond rapidly to emerging threats.
The recent joint operation demonstrates the RAF’s capability to operate in complex international environments and highlights the strength of UK-French military coordination. The Voyager’s mid-air refuelling capacity extends the reach of allied aircraft, enabling sustained surveillance and operational readiness across the region.
As Operation Shader approaches its conclusion, the UK continues to emphasise its commitment to global security partnerships and collective action against terrorism, ensuring that lessons learned over more than a decade of operations are carried forward into future missions.
