Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
