Joint UK-French Airstrike Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.