Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages down to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.