Joint UK-French Airstrike Hits IS Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

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

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

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