British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
