Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts providing entry 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 late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.