Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
