Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
