Combined British-French Airstrike Hits IS Weapons Depot in Syria
Royal 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 employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
