Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.