Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
