Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."

Last December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.