Combined British-French Aerial Assault Hits IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.