Combined British-French Airstrike Strikes IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region
Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
