Recent peshmerga operations have focused on expanding government control to the west of Kirkuk. Following extensive reconnaissance and planning, coalition aircraft, including RAF Tornado GR4s armed with Paveway IV precision guided bombs, conducted a series of coordinated air strikes on carefully selected targets. On the evening of Monday 27 April, the RAF aircraft struck seven targets, including headquarters and weapon storage buildings.

Later that night, a second RAF Tornado patrol provided further support to the Kurdish forces and destroyed a terrorist position with a Paveway.