RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
