Coordinated Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.

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

IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.