Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.