RAF Typhoon shoots ‘Iran-backed militia’ drone out of the sky near Syria base in first air-to-air combat since Falklands

AN RAF Typhoon jet blasted a suspected Iran-backed militia drone out of the sky near a coalition air base in Syria on Tuesday. It is the first time the RAF have had an air-to-air combat engagement since the Falklands War almost 40 years ago. PAAn RAF Typhoon jet sensationally shot down a suspected Iran-backed militia drone in Syria[/caption] Defence officials have declined to say who was flying the drone near the At Tanf base. But Iran and its proxies are known to use drones in the region – including a suicide drone attack against the commercial vessel MV Mercer Street, which killed British Army veteran Adrian Underwood in August. The Typhoon jets based at RAF Akoritiri in Cyprus were part of Operation Shader, the UK’s contribution to the Global Coalition Against Daesh. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “On Tuesday 14 December, hostile drone activity was detected around the At Tanf coalition base in Syria. “A pair of Typhoon FGR4s from Royal Air Force Akrotiri were conducting one of their regular patrols over Syria and Iraq as part of the global coalition against Daesh, and were tasked to investigate. “On arrival in the At Tanf area, the pilots were able to identify a small hostile drone, and despite the diminutive size of the target, succeeded in conducting an air to air engagement with an ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile) which eliminated the threat it posed to coalition forces.” More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. Most read in News WELCOME TO THE WORLD Boris Johnson and Carrie reveal touching name for their new baby girl LOCKDOWN BY STEALTH Brits face ‘lockdown by backdoor’ as Omicron risks bringing UK to halt FAMILY'S FURY Star's great-grandad slams evil killer & mum's 'staggeringly soft sentences' XMAS WITH CAUTION Brits urged to MEET OUTDOORS & limit socialising, warns Whitty RULE THE BOOST Boris Johnson begs Brits to get boosters to stop more restrictions ROT IN HELL Killer LAUGHS as she's jailed for stamping Star to death - as mum gets 8 years