Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.