British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties 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 tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
