Joint UK-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."

In December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.