Joint British-French Airstrike Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.