Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.