UK troops have helped to
train more than 21,000 Iraqi forces and carried out more than 900 strikes,
alongside the coalition.
The Mosul palace, built by
the former Iraqi dictator, was attacked in a joint coalition operation on
Monday.
One of Saddam Hussein's
former palaces in northern Iraq which was being used by Islamic State as a
major training base has been bombed by the RAF.
The Ministry of Defence
said initial analysis indicated the coalition mission was
"successful", as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced the
deployment of more UK troops to Iraq to support the military effort against IS.
The RAF used guided bombs
to first target the headquarters of the terror group's training base, followed
by a security centre, in an attack which was filmed by forces.
Aerial footage shows the
bombardment of the palace with each explosive bomb strike sending giant plumes
of black smoke billowing up into the sky.
The palace is annihilated
until it is barely visible, masked by a massive black smokescreen.
The assault followed
extensive surveillance which established IS - also known as Daesh - was using
the sprawling grounds as a headquarters and training centre for foreign
recruits.
The complex, set in a large
secure compound next to the River Tigris, included the main palace building,
used as accommodation as well as a meeting venue by the terrorists.
There were also a number of
more discreet outbuildings used for command and control, training, internal
security and repression.
The Ministry of Defence said:
"The British contribution was a pair of Tornados, armed with the largest
guided bombs in the RAF's inventory, the 2000lb Enhanced Paveway III, which
were used to target first the headquarters buildings, then a security
centre."
Mr Fallon said: "Daesh
has been losing followers and territory for months, and emphatic strikes like
this show that we and the coalition will not waver.
"Daesh fighters, both
foreign and home-grown, can see that they are targets inside this cult."
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