Combined UK-French Airstrike Hits IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.