RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
