🔗 Share this article Combined British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria A file photo of an RAF Typhoon fighter jet RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence. The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said. "I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally." Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area. The U.N. says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
A file photo of an RAF Typhoon fighter jet RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence. The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said. "I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally." Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area. The U.N. says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.