Combined UK-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

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

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

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