Combined UK-French Airstrike Targets IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.