British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
