British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
