Joint British-French Airstrike Hits IS Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages down to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.

British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.