Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Arms Cache in Syria

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

The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.