Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Munitions Store in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.