Joint British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.