Joint British-French Air Strike Strikes IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."

During December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.