Combined UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
