Coordinated British-French Airstrike Hits Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."

In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.