Combined Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes IS Arms Cache in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.

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

Daesh - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.