Coordinated Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.