British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
