RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts down to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
