🔗 Share this article Combined Anglo-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry. The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced. There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019. "This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked. British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad." During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry. The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced. There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019. "This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked. British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad." During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.