RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," he said. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
