Joint UK-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

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

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.