RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels leading to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
