Coordinated British-French Air Strike Targets IS Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages down to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

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

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.