Coordinated British-French Airstrike Hits IS Arms Cache in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK 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, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.