Coordinated UK-French Air Strike Hits Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.

The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

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

"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

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