RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
