Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.

RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.