British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
