Combined Anglo-French Airstrike Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

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

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.