British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
