RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
