RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
