Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Strikes IS Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.