🔗 Share this article Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry. The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated. There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated. RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I must thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad." In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
An RAF Typhoon FGR4 (file pic) British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry. The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria. "Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated. There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft. IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019. "This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated. RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted. "I must thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad." In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area. The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.