RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
