RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
