Coordinated British-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

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

Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.