Coordinated British-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.