Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.