British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
