🔗 Share this article Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Targets IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD. The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said. There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019. "This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said. UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally." During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD. The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said. There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane. The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019. "This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said. UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally." During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.