Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
