Joint British-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.