Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages down to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
