Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
