Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.