Combined UK-French Airstrike Targets Daesh Munitions Store in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages down to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.