Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.