Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

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

"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.