Combined British-French Airstrike Hits IS Munitions Store in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
