Joint Anglo-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

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

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey said. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

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