Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
