Joint UK-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.