Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

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

"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.