RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
