RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
