Coordinated British-French Air Strike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.