Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

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

"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.