Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.