Joint British-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.

The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."

During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.