Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
