Joint British-French Air Strike Strikes IS Weapons Depot in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.

"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.

British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.

"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."

During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.