Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
