Combined UK-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.