Combined UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.