British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
