RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
