Combined UK-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.

The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.