Combined British-French Air Strike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages down to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."

During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.