Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS 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 "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.