RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages leading to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
