Coordinated British-French Air Strike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages leading to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.

The UN estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.