British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
