Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Hits IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.