British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
