Joint British-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Munitions Store in Syria
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
