British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
