Joint UK-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

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

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."

In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.