Joint British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
