Joint British-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.

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

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.