British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
