Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
