Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.

UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.