Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."

In December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.