Combined Anglo-French Airstrike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," he said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."

During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.