UK and France carry out coordinated attack against ISIS in Syria
Photo: British Air Force (GettyImages)
A new coordinated military operation by Western allies has been carried out in Syria, targeting terrorist infrastructure operating in hard-to-reach areas of the country, according to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence.
According to the statement, the strike was part of ongoing efforts to prevent radical groups from rebuilding their combat capabilities.
Joint strike on an ISIS site
British and French fighter jets carried out a joint strike on an underground weapons storage facility in Syria that was being used by militants of the ISIS terrorist group.
The operation involved Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets, acting in coordination with French aircraft.
Where the target was located
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the site was identified by intelligence in mountainous terrain north of Palmyra.
It is believed the location was used to store weapons and explosives intended for future attacks. The facility consisted of a network of tunnels concealed underground.
How the operation was carried out
Quoted from the UK Ministry of Defence statement:
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility; whilst detailed assessment is now underway, initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully."
The strike was conducted late on Saturday. All aircraft safely returned to their bases, with no losses or damage reported. During the operation, Typhoon FGR4 jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refueling aircraft.
Civilian safety
The UK Ministry of Defence emphasized that there were no indications of a threat to civilians during the strike. The operation was planned with measures in place to minimize any potential collateral risks.
Continuation of the mission in Syria
London also stated that Royal Air Force aircraft continue to patrol Syrian airspace. The primary goal remains preventing the resurgence of ISIS following its military defeat in the Baghouz Fawqani area in March 2019.
It is worth recalling that US President Donald Trump previously said that, on his orders, American forces carried out airstrikes on ISIS positions in northwestern Nigeria, stating that the targets were terrorists involved in attacks and killings of civilians, particularly Christians.
The United States has also launched a large-scale military operation against ISIS militants in Syria following the deaths of two US service members and a translator in the country’s central region.
