Combined UK-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," he added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.