Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Munitions Store in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
