Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.