Combined British-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Weapons Depot in Syria
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group 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 mission for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
