RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages leading to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
