Coordinated British-French Airstrike Targets Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

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

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.