Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.