RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
