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

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.

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

The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.