Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.

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

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.