Combined British-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

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

The UN says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.