🔗 Share this article Combined British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD. The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed. The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019. "This action shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas." In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area. The UN estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD. The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region. "Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced. There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed. The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019. "This action shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas." In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area. The UN estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.