Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Arms Cache in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.