Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Strikes IS Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

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

The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.