RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," he added. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.