Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.