🔗 Share this article Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry. The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said. There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated. UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported. "I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally." In December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry. The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said. There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated. UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported. "I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally." In December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.