Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
