Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of 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 eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.