Combined British-French Airstrike Targets IS Arms Cache in Syria
British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.