Joint UK-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.