Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Targets Daesh Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.