Coordinated British-French Airstrike Hits IS Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."

During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.