RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
