RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
