British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
