RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
