Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
