🔗 Share this article Joint British-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry. The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse. "This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated. UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas." In December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The UN says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry. The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse. "This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated. UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas." In December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The UN says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.