Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.