Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.