Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
