British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
