Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
