Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
