RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
