The United Kingdom confirmed on Sunday that British and French military aircraft had attacked an underground site thought to have served as a weapons and explosives storage location for Islamic State fighters.
The operation occurred on Saturday night in a mountainous area located north of Palmyra within Syria’s Homs province.
According to a Ministry of Defence statement, fighter jets, backed by a Voyager refueling tanker, collaborated with French planes to target entrance tunnels that provided access to the subterranean facility.
The mission also employed Paveway IV precision-guided munitions.
The ministry indicated that while evaluation was still in progress, early reports pointed to a successful strike on the objective.
The United Kingdom and France participate as members of the American-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, established to confront the extremist organization following its earlier capture of substantial territory in Iraq and Syria.
Sir John Healey, the U.K. Secretary of State for Defence, stated that the operation demonstrated Britain’s resolve to block any Islamic State revival and to remain united with allied nations in combating extremist violence in the .
The strike occurred against a backdrop of ongoing U.S. military operations in Syria, where American troops have been carrying out counterterrorism assignments.
In December, the across central Syria.
This action responded to a deadly ambush near Palmyra that claimed the lives of two American service members and one U.S. civilian interpreter.
As previously reported by Digital, according to U.S. Central Command, despite sustained pressure from coalition forces.
CENTCOM said recent U.S. operations in the region have also targeted infrastructure and
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, declared in a December 30 statement, “We will not relent.”
“Our commitment remains firm to collaborate with regional allies in eliminating the ISIS threat to American and regional security.”
Digital has contacted the U.K. Ministry of Defence seeking comment.