Combined Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."

During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.