Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This action shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.