Joint British-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - also known as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.