British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
