Joint British-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

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

"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."

Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.