Combined UK-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.