RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
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 ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
