RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
