Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory 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 positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
