Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
