Combined British-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.