UK and France airstrikes hit underground IS arms bunker close to Palmyra

[ad_1] Tom McArthur and

Laurence Peter

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/54e0/live/33a60730-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA/Shutterstock Royal Air Force ground crew preparing an RAF Typhoon fighter jet. It is night-time and the team are working under the floodlights of a hangar." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> EPA/Shutterstock Royal Air Pressure Hurricane jets have joined French plane in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria utilized by the Islamic State group (IS), the UK Ministry of Defence says.

"Cautious" intelligence evaluation led officers to imagine the ability was storing arms and explosives, the assertion stated, and was in mountains simply north of Palmyra, an historic web site in central Syria.

"Our plane used Paveway IV guided bombs to focus on plenty of entry tunnels right down to the ability... preliminary indications are that the goal was engaged efficiently," the MoD stated.

There was no signal of any hurt to civilians within the strike late on Saturday and all of the plane returned safely, the MoD added.

Detailed evaluation of the strikes is below manner however officers imagine "the goal was engaged efficiently".

The Hurricane FGR4s have been supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019 .

"This motion reveals our UK management, and willpower to face shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and violent ideologies within the Center East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d3de/live/bb560d10-e936-11f0-acd8-8729a70af322.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA/Shutterstock Nighttime shot of an RAF Typhoon fighter jet taxiing on a runway prior to taking off for a mission against so-called Islamic State in Syria." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> EPA/Shutterstock The MoD stated no civilians have been harmed within the strikes

RAF plane have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any tried resurgence" of IS following its defeat on the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry stated.

"I wish to thank all of the members of our armed forces concerned on this operation for his or her professionalism and their braveness," Healey stated.

"They have been amongst 1000's of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New 12 months. This operation, to eradicate harmful terrorists who threaten our lifestyle, reveals how our armed forces are able to step up, all 12 months spherical, protecting Britain safe at house and robust overseas."

The RAF has been utilizing aerial drones and manned plane to strike IS fighters and targets as a part of the worldwide coalition since 2014 .

The United Nations says IS nonetheless has between 5,000 and seven,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.

In November, Syria - below the management of recent President Ahmed al-Sharaa - turned the ninetieth nation to join a US-led coalition to combat the group .

The coalition, officers say, is aimed toward eliminating remaining parts of the so-called Islamic State and stemming the circulation of international militants to the Center East.

Final month, the US navy carried out what it referred to as a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria , following an ambush that killed two American troopers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.