Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
