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

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.