Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Hits Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.