Joint British-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.