Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
