Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
