Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
