Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Munitions Store in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
