Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.

RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

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