🔗 Share this article Combined UK-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD. The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said. RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally." In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD. The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said. RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally." In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.