RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
