Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
