Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.