Combined UK-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
