Joint British-French Airstrike Strikes Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts down to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.