Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
