Coordinated Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
