Combined UK-French Air Strike Hits Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.