British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
