British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
