Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," he added. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.