Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
