Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.