RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
