British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
