Combined Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
