RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
