Joint UK-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.