Combined British-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.