Joint UK-French Airstrike Targets Daesh Munitions Store in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages down to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

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