Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

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

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.