Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," he added. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.