Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
