Joint British-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

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

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

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."

In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.