Joint British-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.