Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Arms Cache in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
