British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
