Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
