RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
