British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," he said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
