Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages down to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
