Combined British-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages down to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.