Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
