Coordinated Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages down to the depot... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.