🔗 Share this article Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD. The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated. The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked. RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said. "I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally." In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area. The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD. The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated. The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked. RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said. "I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally." In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area. The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.