Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.