Joint British-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
