Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Strikes IS Arms Cache in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages leading to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their courage," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
