Joint UK-French Airstrike Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.