Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Targets IS Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be 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 utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.