Coordinated UK-French Aerial Assault Targets IS Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.