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

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts down to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.

RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.