Joint UK-French Aerial Assault Strikes IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.