RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
