British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
