British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
