RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces 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's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
