Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
