Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

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

Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."

During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.