Coordinated Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.