Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
