On Saturday (January 3), the British Ministry of Defence announced that the British and French air forces carried out a joint military operation in Syria that night, launching precise airstrikes on an underground arms storage facility believed to be controlled by the extremist group Islamic State (IS) in order to prevent the organization from resurging in the Middle East.
According to British sources, intelligence analysis indicated that the facility was located in a mountainous area north of the ancient city of Palmyra, used for storing weapons and explosives. Based on the relevant assessments, the British and French air forces conducted a coordinated operation to strike the target.
The British Ministry of Defence pointed out that Western countries have been conducting aerial surveillance missions over Syria in recent years to prevent the remnants of Islamic State from regrouping.
The organization had controlled large swathes of territory in Syria from 2014 to 2019 until it was defeated by the international coalition in 2019. With the recent turmoil in Syria and increased activity of Islamic State remnants, the international community remains highly vigilant against its potential resurgence.
According to British officials, in this operation, the British Royal Air Force deployed Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets, supported by the Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft, and operated in coordination with French military aircraft. The weapons used were Paveway IV precision-guided bombs, targeting multiple entrance tunnels of the facility.
Initial assessments indicate that the target has been successfully destroyed, and further damage assessments are currently underway. The British side also emphasized that the target area was “devoid of any civilian population,” and all aircraft involved in the mission have safely returned.
British Defence Secretary John Healey stated that this military operation demonstrated the UK’s leadership in counterterrorism operations and its steadfast determination to work alongside allies to comprehensively contain any resurgence of Islamic State in the Middle East, and to continue to combat its dangerous and violent extremist ideology.
(Reference: Reuters)