Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
