RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
