🔗 Share this article Joint British-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry. The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria. "The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker. The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally." Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area. The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry. The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria. "The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said. There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker. The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse. "This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked. RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported. "I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally." Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area. The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.