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

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

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

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.

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

The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

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