Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.