Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several access tunnels leading to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This action shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

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