Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
