British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
