Joint British-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."

Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.