Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.