Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.