RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
