Combined British-French Airstrike Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.

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

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.