Joint British-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.