RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
