🔗 Share this article Combined UK-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD. The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria. "The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated. There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated. RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said. "I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad." Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra. The UN says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD. The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria. "The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated. There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed. The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated. RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said. "I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad." Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra. The UN says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.