Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.