British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
