British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
