Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.