Combined UK-French Airstrike Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.