Joint UK-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.