Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages down to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

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

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.

RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.