Combined British-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.