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

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.

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

IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.