Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."

During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.