🔗 Share this article Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence. The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said. There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed. The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker. The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019. "This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked. UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said. "I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally." Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence. The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said. There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed. The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker. The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019. "This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked. UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said. "I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally." Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra. The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.