British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
