Joint UK-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts down to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.