Joint Anglo-French Aerial Assault Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.

UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.