Coordinated British-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."

In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.