Combined UK-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.