Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Strikes Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

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

Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.

British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.