Combined British-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages down to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

During December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.