The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft to conduct a joint strike on an underground arms cache used by the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria. The strike took place in a mountainous region just north of Palmyra, a city of great historical significance.
Officials stated that 'careful' intelligence led them to believe the facility was being used to store arms and explosives. During the operation, the aircraft deployed Paveway IV guided bombs to target access tunnels leading to the cache, with initial reports indicating that the mission was successful.
Importantly, there was no indication of any civilian casualties, and all aircraft returned safely. According to Defence Secretary John Healey, this operation emphasizes the UK’s commitment to collaborate with allies in combating the forces of Daesh and their extremist ideologies in the Middle East.
The strike is part of broader efforts to mitigate the threat posed by IS, which retains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, as stated by the United Nations. Despite being largely defeated in 2019, IS's potential for resurgence remains a concern, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and military action in the region.
Officials stated that 'careful' intelligence led them to believe the facility was being used to store arms and explosives. During the operation, the aircraft deployed Paveway IV guided bombs to target access tunnels leading to the cache, with initial reports indicating that the mission was successful.
Importantly, there was no indication of any civilian casualties, and all aircraft returned safely. According to Defence Secretary John Healey, this operation emphasizes the UK’s commitment to collaborate with allies in combating the forces of Daesh and their extremist ideologies in the Middle East.
The strike is part of broader efforts to mitigate the threat posed by IS, which retains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, as stated by the United Nations. Despite being largely defeated in 2019, IS's potential for resurgence remains a concern, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and military action in the region.
