Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.