Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.