Joint UK-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

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

Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.