Joint UK-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

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