Combined UK-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack 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 - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.