British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
