Joint British-French Airstrike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.