Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
