Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he added. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.