Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."

In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

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