Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
