🔗 Share this article Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes IS Weapons Depot in Syria A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry. The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced. There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added. The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated. British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas." Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry. The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced. There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added. The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated. British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas." Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.