Combined British-French Airstrike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels leading to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet 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 jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
