Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Targets IS Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.