British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
