RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
