Joint British-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - also known as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.