🔗 Share this article Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry. The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse. "This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated. RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted. "I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas." Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
A Typhoon FGR4 from the Royal Air Force (archive image) British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry. The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria. "Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced. There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated. The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane. IS - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse. "This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated. RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted. "I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas." Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra. The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.