Joint UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
