Combined British-French Air Strike Hits IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This action shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.

British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."

Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.