Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
