Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

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

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

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