Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Hits IS Weapons Depot in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
