British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
