Combined British-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.