Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
