Joint UK-French Air Strike Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.