Combined British-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.