Pakistan, Jan. 4 -- Britain and France carried out a joint airstrike on Saturday targeting a suspected underground arms facility used by the Islamic State group in Syria. Officials said the operation aimed to prevent a resurgence of the militant organisation in the region.

The airstrike focused on a site in the mountains north of Palmyra, identified through intelligence analysis as a storage facility for weapons and explosives. Britain confirmed the area was free of civilian habitation, minimising the risk of collateral damage.

Typhoon FGR4 combat jets were deployed for the mission, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, while Paveway IV guided bombs were used to destroy access tunnels leading to the underground facility. Initial as...