Two young British jihadis were killed in Syria when one of them gave away their location as they called a friend in the UK from an “encrypted” mobile phone, it has been claimed.
Abdul Rakib Amin, from Aberdeen, and Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan were blitzed by a drone controlled by RAF pilots after security staff at a government HQ in Cheltenham intercepted the conversation and pinpointed their location in the Syrian desert.
British intelligence agents were able to confirm which car the pair were travelling in and relayed the information back to controllers 3,000 miles away at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
It is understood Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was briefed and gave the attack the go-ahead just minutes before the drone hit the unsuspecting jihadists travelling in a vehicle in Raqqa, capital of the so-called Islamic State.
David Cameron revealed one week ago how the militants had been attacked on the UK Government’s order.
It was the first time an RAF drone has been used to attack a British national in a country in which it is not at war.
The prime minister said the drone strike was an “act of self-defence”.
Aberdeen jihadi gave himself away when he phoned friend back home