British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
