RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
