Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.