British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
