Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.