Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.