RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
