Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
