Combined UK-French Air Strike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.