Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

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

"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels leading 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 operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.