RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
