Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.