Joint UK-French Air Strike Hits IS Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.