Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

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

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."

Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.