British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside 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 site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
