British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
