Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
