Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," he commented. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
