Joint British-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.