RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
