🔗 Share this article Joint UK-French Airstrike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region A file photo of an RAF Typhoon fighter jet Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry. The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated. There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely 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 the minister remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas." Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
A file photo of an RAF Typhoon fighter jet Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry. The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated. There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely 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 the minister remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas." Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.