Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.