Coordinated British-French Airstrike Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.