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 used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
