Joint British-French Airstrike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."

Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.