Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
