RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
