Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts down to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he said. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
