Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
