RAF Typhoons tonight bombed ISIS targets in Syria in a joint operation with France, the Ministry of Defence said.
The target was an underground facility that had been occupied by Daesh, and was suspected to have been used to store weapons.
Guided bombs were used to blitz a number of tunnels leading into the site, set in the mountains near the ancient central city of Palmyra, after ‘careful intelligence analysis’.
The facility was ‘most likely used to store weapons and explosives’, and there were no civilians living in surrounding area, the MOD said.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK was determined to ‘stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies’ to ‘stamp out any resurgence’ of the terrorist movement, also known as the Islamic State.
He thanked members of the armed forces involved in the operation ‘to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life’.
The mission saw RAF Typhoon FGR4s and a Voyager refuelling tanker deployed alongside French aircraft on Saturday evening.
Paveway IV guided bombs were dropped on precise targets – and the MOD said initial indications suggest the mission was a success.
A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is seen here preparing to take-off before joining a mission to strike an ISIS-occupied base in Syria
Royal Air Force pilots are seen here preparing Typhoon aircraft before take-off
The joint action by British and French allies follows the lead of the US, which last month carried out a ‘massive strike’ on ISIS in Syria in response to a deadly attack on American forces in the country.
American forces struck over 70 targets in the country linked to the terror organisation.
Among them were IS fighter compounds, weapon dumps and other infrastructure, with Jordanian fighter jets supporting what was dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike.
It was touted as ‘vengeance’ for the killings of two National Guard members and an interpreter on December 13 in an attack on a convoy in the town of Palmyra.
Three American soldiers were also wounded.
ISIS was militarily defeated in 2019, and its surviving militants were forced underground.
However, they have since been regrouping in various locations including Syria, Iraq and East Africa.
ISIS has been regrouping since its military defeat in 2019
It’s new global leader is believed to be Abdul Qadir Mumin (pictured) who we revealed to have a British wife and three children living in Slough
A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft seen here at take-off ahead of the planned strike
It’s new global leader is believed to be Abdul Qadir Mumin who, the Daily Mail revealed last month, has a British wife and three children living in Slough.
He is now based in a remote mountainous region of northern Somalia, leading the global terror campaign with 1,200 hardened fighters at his command.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
