Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their valour," he commented. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
