British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts down to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
