RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
