Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.