Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Targets IS Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts down to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

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

Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."

In December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.