Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.