🔗 Share this article Coordinated Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry. The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said. British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said. "I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad." During December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The United Nations says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry. The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said. British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said. "I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad." During December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The United Nations says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.