British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages leading to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
