Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Hits IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."

In December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.