RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
