🔗 Share this article Combined British-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD. The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added. The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse. "This action shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said. British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas." Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The U.N. reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD. The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added. The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse. "This action shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said. British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas." Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The U.N. reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.