Joint British-French Airstrike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
