Joint UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.