Combined Anglo-French Aerial Assault Targets Daesh Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh 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 "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."

In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.