Joint UK-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

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

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

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

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.