Joint British-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria
RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.