Combined British-French Airstrike Strikes Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.

The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.

"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.

There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.

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

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

"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.

RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.

"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."

Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.

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