Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

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