Joint British-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," he added. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
