Coordinated British-French Aerial Assault Hits Daesh Weapons Depot in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."

Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.