RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," he added. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
