Combined Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

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

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.