British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels leading to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
