Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.