RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
