Coordinated British-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
