Coordinated Anglo-French Airstrike Hits IS Arms Cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

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

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.