Coordinated British-French Airstrike Strikes IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.