Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Targets IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.