🔗 Share this article Combined British-French Airstrike Hits Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry. The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked. RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad." Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry. The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked. RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad." Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.