Joint Anglo-French Air Strike Hits IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.

The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.

There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.

"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.