Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
