Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.