Combined British-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Munitions Store in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
