Combined UK-French Airstrike Targets IS Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.

The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.

UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.