Joint UK-French Air Strike Targets IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening 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 ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

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