Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.