British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
