Combined British-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in Syria
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
