British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
