Joint British-French Airstrike Targets Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.