Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Strikes Daesh Munitions Store in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

During December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

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