RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
