RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed 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, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
