Combined British-French Air Strike Targets Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.