British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
