British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
