UK Ministry of Defence announces joint operation against ISIS in Syria

The UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the UK and France conducted a joint airstrike on Saturday night on a suspected ISIS mercenaries' site in the Syrian city of Palmyra.

According to the Ministry's statement, the attack took place on the mountains north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria, targeting a facility controlled by the mercenaries, and believed to have been used to store weapons and explosives.

The Ministry explained that the British aircrafts "used Paveway IV guided bombs to target several tunnels leading to the facility," without specifying the role of French aircrafts.

It added, "A detailed assessment is currently underway, but initial indications show that the target was successfully hit."

It continued, "There is no indication that this strike posed a risk to civilians, and all our aircrafts returned safely."

The British Defence Secretary, John Healey, said in the statement, "This action demonstrates the UK's leadership and commitment to standing with its allies to defeat any resurgence of ISIS and its dangerous and violent ideology in the Middle East."

J.J