RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
