Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.