British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
