Combined British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

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

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.