Combined British-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."

In December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.