RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike underscores 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 harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
