Joint British-French Airstrike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
