Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
