Joint British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.