Joint British-French Air Strike Hits IS Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.