RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
