RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
