Joint UK-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

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

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.