Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.

RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.