Coordinated Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

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

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.