Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.