Joint British-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

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

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.