Coordinated British-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts leading to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
