Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
