Joint British-French Airstrike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival 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 Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.