Combined UK-French Airstrike Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

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

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.