RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
