Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes IS Arms Cache in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.