Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts leading to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

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